It was a smile that spelled trouble. With a promise.

Keep in mind that people change, but the past doesn't.

If I'd wanted you dead five minutes ago, you'd have died five minutes ago.

The antique, almost primitive band he held between his fingers caught the sunlight, glinting silver. “I found this ring shortly after I was banished from heaven. I kept it to remind myself of how endless my sentence was, how eternal one small choice can be. I’ve kept it a long time. I want you to have it. You broke my suffering. You’ve given me a new eternity. Be my girl, Nora. Be my everything."

His muscles flexed under his clothes, holding me, leading me. Never letting me stray far.

My arms hurt from how tightly Patch held me. “Now that’s what I call a scream,” he said, grinning at me.

I'll be firm," I promised Patch, adopting a no-nonsense expression. "No backing down." By now Patch was full-on grinning. He kissed me again, and I felt my mouth soften its resolve. "You look cute when you're trying to be tough," he said.