Masculine pride is an exceedingly precious and fragile thing

Life is not an opera. Scenes belong on the stage.

I deserve passion," she said. "I deserve to be loved- in every way. I deserve a man who'll give his whole heart, not the part he isn't using at the moment.

And so I beat him and beat him until he kissed me. And then I kept on beating him until he did it properly.

You refuse to listen. Because, like every other man, you can keep only one idea in your head at a time-usully the wrong one.

I love these pet names," she said, gazing soulfully up into his eyes, "Nitwit. Sap skull. Termagant. How they make my heart flutter!

He had relieved whores beyond counting of frocks, stays, chemises, garters, and stockings. He had never before in his life unbuttoned a gently bred maiden's glove. He'd committed salacious acts beyond number. He'd never before felt so depraved as he did now, as the last pearl came free and he drew the soft kid down, baring her wrist, and his dark fingers grazed the delicate skin he'd exposed.