There were worse things than death, as she'd discovered. Sometimes living took far more courage. Facing another day. Enduring. Those things took strength. Far more than dying.

Some crushes just never went away. They built, instead, into something permanent, obsessive and all consuming.

Tell me, warrior, how soon can we do this again?

You hold your head up. You submitting to me doesn't mean you're anything less...the very last thing I want is for you to be some mindless puppet.

Whoa, wait a minute, Coletrane. Are you proposing to me?” “Well I would if you’d let me finish,” he grumbled.

Never be afraid to tell me anything,” he whispered against her hair. “No matter how ashamed you might feel. I’ll never judge you, Rachel. I love you.

Words are just words. The evidence is in how you act, how you react.