1
The storm is passing over us. Do you want to go to the bayou this night?” he asked softly, separating her hair deftly and beginning to weave it into a thick braid. She loved the feel of his hands in her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp, tugging so gently on the thick length of braid. She reached up to place a palm over her bare shoulder, the exact spot where his lips had touched her. “I would love to go to the bayou with you.” He smiled at her, his silver eyes molten mercury. “We can observe wildlife for a change. No vampires.” “No weird society types, ” she added. “No mortals in need of rescuing, ” Gregori said with intense satisfaction. “Get dressed.” “You’re always taking my clothes off, then telling me to get dressed again, ” Savannah complained with her infuriating smile, that little sexy one that drove him mad. He turned her around to face him, caught the front of her shirt, and drew the gaping edges together to cover her tempting body. “You cannot expect me to dress you myself, do you?” he asked, leaning down to brush her lips with his. She actually felt her heart jump in response. Or maybe it was his heart. It was nearly impossible to tell the difference anymore.Christine Feehan
2
Morning, ma'am. I'm looking for Tommy Mason. Is he around?" Polite and professional, that was Senior Agent Broussard."Lord, what's that no-good sonofabitch done now? Wait, you ain't a cop; you're a game warden. "What'd he do, run over a fish?Susannah Sandlin
3
Neely McIntire, " I said, clamping a sweaty hand behind her neck. "Friendship be damned! " Hayden yanked me forward. I had time to make a very girly sound before his lips began to move furiously over mine. His touch left behind the tingle of cinnamon gum. One of his hands slowly slid down and pressed into the small of my back. For a second, I thought the sun had washed over me. But this heat cuddled around me, pushing its way through my clothes. " Stmmmmp, " I tried to say around his lips. My knees wobbled as he wound his fingers into the curls at my neck, holding my face firmly against his. " No." The hot pressure of his hand increased. A rumbling protest came from his throat when I dug my nails into his collarbones. " Lemme go, " I managed to gasp when he kissed the corner of my mouth. " No, " he whispered. His voice became a yielding puff of smoke. It slipped into my ears and coaxed something familiar from the broken depths. The urge to fight drained away. This wisp of memory warmed me, relaxed tensed muscles, but tightened other places. My fists uncurled and gripped his shoulders. "Why are you doing this?" " I want you to come back to me, Neely, " he said, wrapping his arms around my waist to press our hips together. Fiery lips caressed my face and neck. "I know you're in there somewhere. Come back, come back, come back, " he whispered between kisses.K.D. Wood
4
Do you know why the lotus is one of my favorite flowers?" I cocked my head to one side so I could see his expression. He shook his head. " This beautiful flower lives in the most vile, muddy water of swamps and bogs, " I said and rubbed the smooth metal of the pendant between my fingers. He frowned. " No, seriously.. the grosser the environment, the better, " I said. " So let me get this straight. You like a flower that lives in disgusting places?" One of his eyebrows rose. "That ain't right." " No, I love this flower, " I corrected. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, "Seriously?" "What?" You don't believe me?" " Sure, I believe you. It's just weird." " I'll tell you why, but only if you promise not to laugh, " I said. He nodded. Taking a cleansing breath, I rested my head against the seat, closed my eyes, and took that scary first step. " This flower stays in the mud and muck all night long." I peeked at him without moving my head. His face had become set in the smooth lines of one who listens intently. " Then, at sunrise, it climbs toward the light and opens into a pristine bloom. After the sun goes down, the bloom sinks into the mire. Even though it spends the whole night underwater, the flower emerges every morning as beautiful as the day before." Smiling, I swiveled in my seat to face him. "I love this flower because it reminds me that we get second chances every day, no matter what muck life drags us through.K.D. Wood
5
Come in." The kid turned and walked toward the house. "I'll help you if I can." He paused, his brown eyes turned toward Stacy who now stood open-mouthed. "But you'll have to do something for me in return." I frowned. "Like what?" " Hide me from my mother, " he said. His eyes were shiny with fresh tears. I snorted. "Do you mean your mother, the beauty queen?" " No, " he said softly. His face suddenly seemed older. "I mean my mother, the monster.K.D. Wood
6
I don’t like coming over here at night, the girl said. The bayou is scary in the dark, all manner of things running wild out there.Samuel SnoekBrown
7
We can do slow and sweet later. I want you fast and rough, and I've been begging for a while now." She hooked a leg around his, bringing their bodies together as close as possible. "If you missed the memo, buddy, I've been trying to get you inside me half the day." With a low groan, he picked her up and lowered her to the bed, his mouth and tongue setting up a rhythm to match the fingers he slid inside her. "Not that, " she said. "You. Now.""Bossy Cajun woman." He gave her a tousle-haired, lopsided grin as he rolled into the cradle of her thighs, positioning himself at her 'entrance..Susannah Sandlin
8
What a voice. Deep, throaty, but not in a sexy way. In a haunted way. A voice full of heartbreak and ghosts. I won't go back, I won't go home, ' Cause in this place, the dead still roam, ' Cause this time, Whiskey Bayou won't let me go.Susannah Sandlin