When you've been really beaten, you realize that you are just an envelope of skin, an easily penetrated envelope that holds together a lot of fluids and some rigid structures, which in their turn can simply be broken and invaded.

Who wants a bag of bones?” he said, with absolute sincerity. “I don’t want to hurt myself on the sharp edges of the woman I’m bedding.

My gran had always told me that a woman--any woman worth her salt--could do whatever she had to.

I don't like having feelings," Eric said coldly, and he left. That was a tough exit line to top.

If I was getting harder, it was in response to the world around me.

Softie was not a word you could use in the same sentence as Eric.

The security light made me feel safe, though I knew that was an illusion. If there's light, you can just see what's coming for you a little more clearly.