She was everything he'd ever wanted, beauty and fire arching against his despoiling hands.

You won't kiss me for diamonds," he said, his voice slightly raspy, "but you will for chocolates?" Poppy nodded.

Slowly his resistance ebbed. She felt the change in his body, the relaxing of tension, his shoulders curving around her as if he could draw her into himself. Murmuring her name, he brought her hand to his face and nuzzled ardently into her palm, his lips brushing the warm circlet of her gold wedding band. “My love is upon you,” he whispered…and she knew then that she had won.

It was unfair that people who longed for love the most, searched the hardest for it, found it so elusive.

Because letting someone in close meant they could hurt you. I knew all about that kind of fear. I lived with it.

Oh, I have a very pure soul. It's only my private parts that have gotten me into trouble".

You can never be truly happy in a life unless you have known a sorrow. All terrible things we have gone through in life have created spaces inside us where happiness can live Not to mention love.