In the Wake of the Wind

Not only is Serafina innocent of any wrongdoing, but she also doesn’t subscribe to your brand of hellfire and damnation.

He cared about what she thought of him, a dangerous thing in itself. He wanted her to like him as much as he liked her, a fool’s mission. He wanted her to smile at him again, that sweet, wide, gamine smile, to hear her bright laughter, to see her eyes light up with amusement at some ridiculous comment he made.

this was a different kind of hunger, born not just from strong physical attraction but also from some nameless longing that struck a chord deep in his being, as if it had always been there, but he had never known it.

That alone was enough to scare him out of his wits, but apparently not enough to stop him.

You can’t help looking at her and seeing sunshine

“She’s not beautiful in the classic sense, with perfectly ordered, chiseled features. She’s … unusual looking. Delicate. Soft.” He realized he was babbling, but he couldn’t help himself. “She’s … striking,” he said, sitting up straighter, his palms pressed together. “Striking in the way that takes your breath away, as if you’ve just come around a corner and unexpectedly stumbled across a field of brilliant flowers, wild and—and unordered, just as nature designed them. Do you see what I mean?”

I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart’s affec­tions and the truth of the Imagination.

Never again will you confuse misplaced loyalty for love

She had always known. It was he who had been blind.

I never thought I’d be lucky enough to find love, but against all reason I have, and I have no intention of ever letting you go for any reason.”

How could you have thought for a moment that I would ever want another woman after being with you?”