Destiny was a machine built over time, each choice that you made in life adding another gear, another conveyor belt, another assemblyman. Where you ended up was the product that was spit out at the endโand there was no going back for a redo. You couldnโt take a peek at what youโd manufactured and decide, Oh, wait, I wanted to make sewing machines instead of machine guns; let me go back to the beginning and start again. One shot. That was all you got.
J.R. WardBeing with Mary was different because...he wasn't the only one who wanted to make love to her. The beast wanted her, too. The beast wanted out so it could take her.
J.R. WardBlay didnโt shake the hand that was offered. He reached over, took a hold of the fighterโs face, and drew Qhuinn in for a kiss. It was supposed to be only a split-seconderโ like their lips were the ones doing the handshake thing. When he went to pull back, though, Qhuinn captured him, and held him in place. Their mouths met againโฆ and againโฆ and once more, their heads tilting to the sides, the contact lingering. โYouโre welcome,โ Blay said roughly. Then he smiled a little. โCanโt say it was all a pleasure, though.
J.R. Ward