J.D. Robb

“There it was, Eve supposed. There was the answer to why people got tangled up with people. Because when you were down, when you were wallowing, someone you mattered to would ask if you were okay.”

“People have been sleeping and/or marrying their way to the top since the first cavewoman said: ‘Ugh, that one’s the strongest and has the biggest club. I’ll shake my mastodon-skin-covered ass at him.’”“Ugh?”“Or whatever cave people said. And it’s not just women who do it. Cave guy goes: ‘Ugh, that one catches the most fish, I’ll be dragging her off to my cave now.’ Ava sees Tommy and—”“Says ugh.”“Or today’s equivalent thereof.”-Eve & Roarke. .”

“You've got no sense of humor.""I'm going to laugh really hard after I kick your ass.”

“Roarke: The bodies of the three men were found floating in the Chattahoochee River.Eve: I think it'd be embarrassing to be dead in the Hoochie-Coochie River.Roarke: ChattahoocheeEve: What's the difference?Roarke: Quite a bit, I'd think.”

“That's science fiction shit," "It's only fiction until science catches up.”

“I want you to take note, Commander, that turning in my badge would be like cutting off my arm. But if it comes down to a choice between the job and my marriage, then I lose the arm.”

“If you tell me I'm sensible in addition to normal and wise, I'm going to punch you in the stomach.”

“He'd wanted her. Out of all the women in the world, he'd wanted her. Wanted, hell, she thought grinning now. Pursued, demanded. Taken. And while she could admit all of that was exciting, he'd gone one step further.He cherished.She'd never believed anyone would, or could. And had never believed there was enough inside her to give all of those things back." (Lt. Eve Dallas)”

“You have to trust or you're only living half a life.”

“I said, you're the beat of my heart, the breath in my body, the light in my soul.”

“Roarke: You'd enjoy flying more if you'd learn the controls.Eve: I'd rather pretend I'm on the ground.Roarke: And how many vehicles have you wrecked, had blown up, or destroyed in the last, oh, two years?Eve: Think about that, then imagine it happening when I'm at the wheel at thirty thousand feet.Roarke: Good point. I'll do the flying.”

“Say what you said before again. The Irish thing. I want to say it back to you."He smiled. Took her hand. "You'll never pronounce it.""Yes, I will."Still smiling, he said it slowly, waited for her to fumble through. But her eyes stayed steady and serious as she brought his hand to her heart, laid hers on his, and repeated the words.She saw emotion move over his face. His heart leaped hard against her hand. "You undo me, Eve."He sat up, dropped his brow against hers. "Thank God for you," he murmured in a voice gone raw. "Thank God for you.”

“You're aunt's just--what is it--down the hall. You know damn well this place isn't soundproofed.""You'll just have to be quiet." He gave her ribs a deliberate tickle that made her jump and yelp. "Or not.""Didn't I bang you already today, twice this morning?""Darling Eve, you're a pathetic romantic.”

“The man loves you with everything he has, everything he is. Eve, that means you can hurt him.”

“You're almost as good as Peabody."He stopped at the door, grabbed her up in a steaming kiss. "You can't get that from Peabody.""I could if I wanted." But it made her grin as he uncoded the locks. "But I like you better for sex.”

“When I came in and you were sleeping, I thought: There’s my soldier, exhausted from her wars.” He lifted her hand, kissed her fingers. “Now, I look, and I think: There’s my woman, soft and lovely.” Her lips curved as he undressed her. “Where do you get this stuff?” “It just comes to me. I’ve only to look at you, and the world comes to me. You’re my life.”

“Do you remember the first time we made love?" He touched his lips to hers as he said it. "We rode up in the elevator like this and couldn't keep our hands off each other, couldn't get to each other quick enough. I was mad for you. I wanted you more than I wanted to keep breathing. I still do." He deepened the kiss as the elevator doors opened. "It's never going to change.”

“An eye for an eye.”“That's a revenge thing, right? From some play.”“The Bible, darling. The Lord of all plays.”

“Marriage isn't for the weak or lazy. It's work, and it should be. What would be the point otherwise?”