ŷ������

“Believe me, Kelley. If I’m not…it’s because I’m already dead.�� He stroked her hair, and she could feel his breath warm on her forehead, like a kiss. “Because anyone that would seek to hurt you would have to kill me first.”
― Lesley Livingston, Wondrous Strange

“The Janus Guard will also be out that night,�� he said, one hand reaching out to squeeze her shoulder. “Just as we have been and will be for every night of the Nine.��
“G�Ǵǻ�.��
“Speaking of which—Kelley…�� Sonny seemed suddenly exhausted. He turned his face to the west, and she could see the fatigue etched into the lines and planes of his face. “It’s getting late. You need to leave the park. Please. Don’t argue with me this time. Just go. The sun will set soon, and I have to go to work.��
He squared his shoulders as though he expected her to put up a fight. She did—a little—but only out of actual concern for him. “Shouldn’t you be taking it easy? I mean, you try to hide it with the whole tough-guy-swagger thing and all, but I saw the bandages. You’re really hurt. Aren’t you?��
“It’s not so bad.��
“Wow. You are a terrible liar.��
He frowned fiercely at her.
“You also look like you haven’t slept in a week.�� She took a tentative step toward him and put a hand on his chest, looking up into his silver-gray eyes. He put his hand over the top of hers, and she could feel the rhythm of his heart beating under her palm, through his shirt and the bandages.
“I’m fine.��
“Are you sure?��
With his other hand, Sonny reached up and brushed a stray auburn curl out of her eyes.
“I’m sure.��
He smiled down at her, and she felt her insides melt a little. His whole face changed when he smiled. It was like the sun coming out.
“But,�� he continued, “I’ll be even better if you are safe at home and I don’t have to worry about you for tonight.��
“I can take care of myself, Sonny Flannery,�� she bristled, halfheartedly.
“Please?�� He turned up the wattage on his smile.
“I…okay.�� She felt her own lips turn up in a shy, answering smile. “I’ll be good. This once.��
“That’s my girl.��
Kelley was silent. Those three words of Sonny’s had managed to render her utterly speechless.”
― Lesley Livingston, Wondrous Strange

“He whispered, "My Firecracker...”
― Lesley Livingston, Wondrous Strange

“She drew herself up and took in a breath, concentrating on her inflection so that she could indulge him in his game. Then she leaned forward and, in her best, most sincerely love-struck voice, breathed, "I love thee."

Sonny's face was just inches from hers. His storm-gray eyes flashed, and the dark silk of his hair drifted across his cheek as he leaned in his head. "Perfect."

So was the kiss.

Perfect.

"I love thee," Sonny murmured, all pretense gone.”
― Lesley Livingston, Wondrous Strange

“Magick Time.”
― Lesley Livingston, Tempestuous

“Emilio, shut the fuck up!" Carhart shouted at him, turning entirely to give his friend an incredulous look. "What's wrong with you?"
Emilio shrugged innocently, raising his eyebrows high. "I don't know how to take instructions slash am a bad person?”
― Santino Hassell, The Interludes

“Sonny shows me his phone. It’s a text message from Rapid, sent this morning, and it consists of one simple-but-not-so-simple question: Wanna meet up? My mouth drops. “Seriously?�� “Seriously,�� Sonny says. “Holy shit.��

There’s one problem though. “Why haven’t you responded?�� “I don’t know,�� he says. “Part of me is like, hell yeah. The other part feels like this shit is too good to be true. What if he’s really a fifty-year-old man who lives in his mom’s basement and has a malicious plot to murder me and leave my body parts spread out across his backyard, unknown to anyone, until twenty years from now when a stray dog sniffs me out?�� I stare at him.
“The specifics in your examples are disturbing sometimes.”
― Angie Thomas, On the Come Up

“Mr Bough has 'surprise picnic' written all over him.”
― John Allison, The Case of the Team Spirit

“Sonny was a spiky ray of light to those lucky enough to be close to him, but life had taught him to play his cards close to his chest.”
― Garrett Leigh, Bones

“Wow. I didn't think I'd ever see you like that."
Cam trembled; he couldn't help it. He felt like his body was not his own. "Like what?"
"So..." Sasha seemed to search for the right word. "Involved, maybe? On-screen, you all seem kinda cold. I guess I figured you'd done it all before."
Cam took a moment to gather himself. A phrase came to him, and he allowed himself a wry grin. "It's not the same. That's work, even if it's one of my friends. This is real sex.”
― Garrett Leigh, Bones