欧宝娱乐

“He looked at me for a moment longer, with unbearable longing. I love you, Alexa. No matter what happens tomorrow, or any day after that, I will always love you.
My eyes burned. I love you, too, Rylan.
But it's not enough, he said. I was too late.”
― Sara B. Larson, Defy

“Every time you said the phrase 'homologous chromosome' when you lectured at East Park, it made me so horny.鈥�
His lips brush against my ear. 鈥淗omologous chromosome.鈥�
鈥淵es, yes just like that.鈥�
His voice gets deeper, huskier. 鈥淗omologous chromosome.鈥�
鈥淥h, god.鈥�
鈥淗omologous chromosome.鈥�
鈥渊别蝉.鈥�
鈥淗omologous chromosome.鈥�
鈥渊别蝉!&谤诲辩耻辞;
― Iris Blaire, Dark Frame

“How do you know she had sex?鈥� Dallas asks.
鈥淓very time a penis touches Britain, I receive a telepathic notification.鈥�
鈥淥h,鈥� Dallas says with a straight face. 鈥淲ell that explains a lot.”
― Iris Blaire, Dark Frame

“I want you to know that I'll always be here for you. He paused and then rushed on. When the day comes that Prince Damian breaks your heart and you need a friend to turn to, I'll be right here for you, just like I always have been.”
― Sara B. Larson, Defy

“Well, do you want her help or not? Rylan asked impatiently. And then Damian finally spoke. Rylan, I demand you apologize to Alexa at once. That is no way to talk to my fiancee.
Your what? In his shock, Rylan didn't even attempt to hide the half horror, half jealousy on his face or in his voice.”
― Sara B. Larson, Ignite

“I feel something on my chest. Ivy's resting her head on me. In fact, she's pulled herself so close that we're touching everywhere. My heart picks up speed again, but I'm surprisingly calm, seeing her beautiful face close to mine, her eyes closed in an expression of content bliss, and鈥攖he best part鈥攆eeling her own heart pound in time with mine. She's feeling what I'm feeling.
That is when I know for sure.
"Ivy?" I know what I have to do.
"Mm?" Her songbird voice is a calm purr.
"I think...no. I really, really like you."
Like moving through molasses, Ivy raises her head. Her eyes are enormous with bewilderment. But there's no fright, no dislike, no anything that discourages me, With that in mind, I don't hesitate as I move my face and my lips to her lips.
Ivy's lips are cool like water but delicate and velvety and smooth like round pebbles. She smells like wildflowers, wet earth, and freshly cut grass, which only makes me want her more. I press my lips harder against hers, and a shiver of delight snakes through me when I feel her press back. Daring myself, I open my mouth. So does she, and the kiss deepens. My hand slides upward to caress her satin cheek, and the back of my neck tingles as her fingers play with my hair.
This is it. Ivy's and my first kiss. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Unhurriedly we pull our faces away, though we leave our foreheads touching.
"Ivy?" I peer into her eyes. She doesn't look upset, but more calm and curious.
She meets my eyes and asks, "What was that?"
"A kiss. You do it with people you like."
To my amazement Ivy leans forward and kisses me again. It's incredible as the first time.
"That is my feeling towards you," she tells me as she leans back. She meets my eyes, her face flushed but determined. "I...am...really liking you, too."
I smile and pull her to me, and we grasp each other like we never want to let go.
She likes me. I like her.
This can't get any better.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“I was a diva for thinking that my life would dramatically change when I came out of the gigantic closet-o-porn.”
― Iris Blaire, Dark Frame

“Silently we lie there, staring at each other. Eventually Ivy moves; to my delight she rolls closer to me, snuggling her head into the crook of my shoulder and placing a hand on my chest. Carefully I drape my arm around her waist and comb my fingers through her long hair while my other hand pulls the forgotten blanket over us.
"Rylan?" Ivy murmurs a minute later.
"Yeah?"
"Tell me again the words you told me when we were dancing."
I grin into her scalp. "I like you."
"I...like you, too."
Her fingers dance across my heart.”
― Colleen Boyd

“To think I actually talked to the boy who nearly got you killed," Ivy mutters, shuddering with disgust. "I'm so sorry I did."
"It's okay. You didn't know," I reassure her as we take a seat on some pool chairs.
"But you told me before what his appearance was. I should have recognized him!"
"It's fine, Ivy. Even if you did your best to avoid him, he would've found way to hit on you eventually."
Ivy wrinkles her nose at the unfamiliar language. " 'Hit on'? What does that mean?"
"Flirting. Or, for Dunstan, more like a procedure. He's been hitting on any pretty girl he sees ever since he and Melanie broke up. I don't know if he's doing this to make her jealous or what, but it's really annoying."
I look back up to see Ivy go rigid. For some reason she looks classically surprised; her hand is over her mouth, and the rosy blush is back with a vengeance,
"Ivy? You okay?"
Ivy removes her hand, muttering something so quietly I can't hear it.
"Sorry?"
"You called me pretty." The moment those words are said, Ivy stares down at her feet as her face gets brighter.
"Well, yeah," I murmur, my face hot. "You really are beautiful tonight, Ivy.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“I mean that after the little accident with your mom, you'd think you'd never come out here again."
My heart stops. I'm not exaggerating. I swear, for a pure second, my chest seized and all the blood flowing in my veins pauses. I can't believe he would say something like that. From the look on everyone's faces, they can't believe it either.
Aidan's the first to react as he growls, "Shut up! You jerk...how can you say something like that?"
Dunstan ignores Aidan's outburst as he keeps his eyes trained on me. His face is indifferent, but I know he's smirking on the inside. Why's he doing this? What does he want me to do? React? I would, if I could get any movement back in my freakin' legs. However, they seem to be paralyzed at the moment. I settle for glaring at him.
"Don't tell me you haven't gotten over it. It's been, what? Ten years since?"
"He said shut up!" Nadia snarls. She bares her teeth in primal fury and seems almost ready to pounce on him.
But if he catches on, Dunstan doesn't show it. "I just think it's amazing you'd still come out here. I know I wouldn't."
"Mr. Lebelle, it is in my power to turn this boat around and end this tour early. So I suggest that you stop this conversation at once," Babette threatens him. She doesn't shout, but her iron tone is just as鈥攊f not more鈥攆rightening as any yelling could be.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“When I find her, she's standing by some boulders near the rim of her clearing. Ivy's holding a rock as she looks under it, as if she'll find me under there.
"Ivy? I'm right here."
She doesn't answer. She doesn't even turn around. She just sets the rock down and moves on to the next one, calling out my name. "Rylan?"
"Ivy, I'm right behind you." Why won't she look at me?
"I cannot find you...Rylan." Ivy talks to herself as she lifts up each rock. "Where did you go? Why are you...not here?"
"But I am, Ivy. I'm right here."
Ivy finishes searching under the rocks and for a moment gazes out into the dense trees. "Where are you, Rylan? Why am I...alone?"
"You're not!" I cry out in frustration. "I'm right behind you! Just turn around and look!"
She does. Ivy turns around and walks toward me until we're only a foot apart. But she isn't looking at me. She's looking over my shoulder, just like Dad.
"Do you see me now?" I furiously waved my hands in front of her face. "I'm right here."
When Ivy speaks again, she's talking to herself.
"Rylan? Where are you?"
She stretches out her hand and touches me with it. It goes right through me. Like I'm mist. Like I'm a ghost.
Like I wasn't even here to begin with.
"Ivy!”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“I'm never going to 'not come' because of you. You're my friend."
I finally turn around so I can reassure her some more, but I freeze. Guilt stabs me deeply.
She's crying.
It's not full-out bawling, but in the little light available I see two wet trails slowly dripping from sorrowful eyes.
"Ivy?"
Her wet eyes close as she slumps forward, her shoulders shuddering.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“If guilt can cause heartache, then I've definitely experienced it. Seeing Ivy hunched over and crying for probably the first time in her really long life is making me feel like the worst person in the world. With her tears streaked face in her hands, she looks so fragile, vulnerable, and human.
I come forwards and give her a hug.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“We stand, gazing at each other, until Ivy moves again, pulling me into another super hug. But this time as my arms touch her waist, it somehow feels softer than before. I wish I could hold on forever.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“Ivy hugs me tighter. "Wonderful, Rylan. This is good to know. And thank you for calling me...your friend. I love being called that."
Love. My cheeks catch fire and my heart races as we continue holding each other. That word has become so foreign in my house, ever since my dad started distancing himself. But here's my best friend using it in a way that makes me feel like everything's okay and I'm whole again.
It's the same one word鈥攖he only word鈥攖hat could describe what I'm feeling for Ivy.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“I'm seeing someone."
It gets quiet enough to hear our breathing.
"You're dating someone?" Aidan asks, sitting back down in my chair. Nadia retakes her spot on my mattress.
I glance down at my hands, feeling my cheeks redden. "Not dating, really. It's more like I have feelings I haven't told her about yet."
"Do we know her?"
I shake my head.
"Who is she?" Nadia inquires. I glance up and instantly hate the look of rejection on her face,
The lies flow out of me too easily. "Her name's Ivy. She lives over in Harraway with her parents."
"Is she our age?"
"Yeah. She's only a year older."
Try a lot older. I'm answering myself again.
"An older woman? Awesome! What does she look like?"
I close my eyes as I remember her human form from my dreams. "She's about my height, has long white-blond hair, and green eyes. Ivy's very beautiful."
Beautiful? More like drop-dead gorgeous.
"She sounds like it." Aidan leans back, putting his hands behind his head. "So where's you meet her?"
"At the hospital in Harraway. Ivy does her service hours there."
"How come we never saw her?"
"You missed each other. She came there at different hours than you guys did."
Nadia sticks her hands up and stretches. "What did you two do?"
"Talk. Just what we do now. Ivy gave me her phone number and email before I left."
"Have you talked to her since?"
"Practically every day. She's a wonderful person. You guys would like her."
That or you would run away in terror.
"So let me get this straight." Aidan scrunches up his face as he thinks everything over. "The reason that you're not gag over Melanie anymore is because of some older chick you met in the hospital?"
"Yep."
Aidan lets out a long, low whistle. "Damn. If she's good enough to kick Melanie off the love pedestal, she has to be worth going after."
I nod. "Yeah. Ivy is. I...I think I like her."
If this were a cartoon, Nadia would have a rain cloud over her head鈥攕he looks that bashed from my news.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“Rylan!"
Nadia and I turn our heads simultaneously towards the entrance to the living room as Tim Powers appears.
"Yeah?" I yell across the room.
That's when I notice the expression on Power' face. A mixture of awe, amazement, appreciation, and a bit of jealousy.
"Your girlfriend's here," Tim informs me.
He steps aside, and a goddess enters the room.
It's been forever since I first had those dreams Ivy sent me with her in her disguise. But I still remember how she looks. Pale skin, long hair, bright-green eyes, and a model's figure. A perfect dream girl, who's now reality.
Ivy smiles shyly as she steps into the room. Her skin is porcelain, unflawed and shiny. White-blind hair, straight and flowing, falls down her back and ends a little bit past her waist. She's not wearing her woven grass robe, but instead a dress mist likely altered from a piece of clothing from her clothes sack. It probably reached the floor at one point, with long sleeves, but the sleeves are gone and the skirt's been snipped away, leaving behind a green dress that shows off mile-long legs.
But her face...all that pales in comparison to her face. Heart-shaped, with high cheekbones, an elegant nose, a well-shaped chin, and her lips鈥攕he's not covering them anymore鈥攖wo shimmering, bright green pools I would be happy to drown in or go through. People believe the eyes are the window to your soul, and Ivy's soul is beautiful.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“Hello, Rylan,"Ivy greets me. Even with her transformation, her voice still has that magical quality about it. Her white arms wrap me in a hug, which I return. Throughout the room, I can hear disappointed sighs; the crazy-hot babe is taken.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel

“We turn around and there stands Aidan, looking like he just won a million dollars. He can't keep his eyes off Ivy.
"Hey, Aidan," I greet. "I'd like you to meet Ivy."
"I am quite pleased to meet your acquaintance." Ivy gently shakes his hand.
Finally getting a grip, Aidan returns the shake, his goofy grin reappearing on his face. "Yeah. I'm Aidan. Good to meet you, too."
"Rylan has told me so much about you."
Aidan rubs his chin, a comically sly glint in his eyes. "Oh really? Did he say how dashing, brilliant, and incredibly handsome I am?"
"No." I shakes, completely unaware it's all a joke. "Rylan said you were loud and that if it was not for him, you'd still be stuck in the third grade."
I snort into my water as Aidan scowls.
"But he also says you're a good brother, a trustworthy friend, and very funny." She breaks off giggling. "And I see what he means. You should see the look on your face!"
Oh, ya mean this?" Aidan puts his hands up and wiggles his fingers as his expression contorts into something even crazier. Ivy continues giggling; even I let out a chuckle feeling my nerves disappear. No more worrying with the whole "meet my friends" situation.”
― Colleen Boyd, Swamp Angel