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Jennifer L. Armentrout Quotes

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Famous Jennifer L. Armentrout Quotes

“I don't want to know about love.' 'But you should, my child. You need to know about love. The things people will do for love. All truths come down to love, do they not? One way or another, they do. See, there is a difference between love and need. Sometimes, what you feel is immediate and without rhyme or reason.' She sat up a little straighter. 'Two people see each across a room or their skin brushes. Their souls recognize the person as their own. It doesn’t need time to figure it. The soul always knows... whether it’s right or wrong.”

“I wish you'd gone with Alastir and Kieran,' he said quietly. 'You would be far away from here. Safe.' I opened my eyes. Casteel stared into the darkness. 'But I'm glad you're here. Spessa's End needs you. I need you.' He looked at me then. 'But I still wish you weren't here.' I could accept that. 'I wish you weren't here,' I whispered.”

“Is that a smile?' He leaned over, eyeing me far too intently to be serious. 'It is. You've greeted me with three of them now. Be still my heart.' Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes. 'It must not take much to still your heart.' 'Apparently, it takes a mortal Princess,' he said. 'One who roams haunted woods in the dead of night and swims gloriously naked in a lake.”

“I saw that. That little grin.' He leaned in, dipping his chin against the side of my neck. 'Why are there times you still hide your smiles from me?' His chest roses with a heavy breath as he sat back. 'You have a beautiful smile. That and your laugh. And you... you never laughed enough as it was, but when you did...' I closed my eyes. 'When you did, it was like the moment the damn mist finally cleared. Like when the first rays of sun break through the clouds after a heavy storm,' he said without an ounce of embarrassment. 'Your laugh is as beautiful as your smile, and when I told you it was like hearing something familiar? It wasn't a lie.”

“I’m glad...you texted.” Rider tilted his head to the side. “Yeah?” I nodded, probably a little too eagerly, but as the dimple in his right cheek took shape, it was like being rewarded. Our eyes met for a moment, and I didn’t want him to leave. An urge took me like it had during lunch, and I all but bounced forward. Gripping his arms, I stretched up and kissed his cheek. It was pretty much just a peck, so I figured it wasn’t crossing any lines, but the feel of his skin under my lips was still unnerving and unexpected. “Be careful,” I whispered, backing off. Rider’s grin faded from his handsome face. A moment passed before he spoke. “Always, Mouse.”

“The drawings make you smile,” he replied with a grin. “Working on the speech doesn’t do anything.” That...that was so sweet, I wanted to hug him tight, kiss him, too. “Working on your speech will make me smile, too.” His brows lifted and then he flipped his notebook closed. “I know what else will make you smile.” “What? You actually doing some homework?” “Nope.” He glanced at the door again and then rose. “I think me sitting closer to you will make you smile.” The boy knew me well. He took a step closer. “I think holding your hand will make you smile.” I straightened as I watched him. “And I think...” He sat on the edge of the bed and twisted his body toward mine. “I think kissing you will make you smile, too.”

“So how long do I have before—what were their names? Carl and Rosa? Yeah, that’s them. How long do I have before they come back?” “I don’t know. Maybe...maybe an hour or so?” My hands felt incredibly small in his. That lopsided grin was back. “I doubt they’d be happy to find me here.” “Why?” His brows rose. “Maybe I’m wrong. They used to coming home to find some strange guy sitting on their couch?” I rolled my eyes. “That’s it, isn’t it?” Rider tugged on my hands, and I rose, letting him pull me down to the couch beside him. He leaned back, sliding one arm around my shoulders and tucking me against his side. “Just par for the course with you, huh?” I didn’t know what to do with my hands since he’d let go of them, so I folded them in my lap. “I’ve never had a...guy here.” Rider stiffened and then he twisted his neck so he was looking at me. Did I seriously admit that out loud? Squeezing my eyes shut, I sighed. “I’m just...going to shut up now.” He chuckled. “Don’t do that. I like listening to you talk.”

“Say something.” I struggled to get the word out. “What?” “My name.” I wasn’t sure why he wanted me to say that, and I didn’t know how it would feel to say it again after all this time, but I drew in a deep breath. “Rider.” Another breath shuddered through me. “Rider Stark.” His throat worked and, for a heartbeat, neither of us moved as a steamy breeze tossed strands of hair across my face. Then he dropped his notebook to the pavement. I was surprised it didn’t burst into dust. His long-legged pace ate up the distance. One second there was several feet between us, and in the next breath he was right there in front of me. He was so much taller now. I barely reached his shoulders. And then his arms were around me. My heart exploded as those strong arms pulled me against his chest. There was a moment where I froze, and then my arms swept around his neck. I held on, squeezing my eyes shut as I inhaled the clean scent and the lingering trace of aftershave. This was him. His hugs were different now, stronger and tighter. He lifted me clear off my feet, one arm around my waist, the other hand buried deep in my hair, and my breasts were mushed against his surprisingly hard chest. Whoa. His hugs were most definitely different than they were when we were twelve. “Jesus, Mouse, you don’t even know...” His voice was gruff and thick as he set me back on my feet, but he didn’t let go. One arm stayed around my waist. His other hand fisted the ends of my hair. His chin grazed the top of my head as I slid my hands down his chest. “I never thought I’d see you again.” I rested my forehead between my hands, feeling his heart beat fast. I could hear people around us, and I imagined some were probably staring, but I didn’t care. Rider was warm and solid. Real. Alive.”

“Embarrassment flooded me, but Rider was grinning as he scooted closer and tugged me over. Before I knew what he was doing, he’d tucked my hips between his thighs and circled his arms around me, holding me tight to his chest. His really hard chest. The contact jolted me, like touching a live wire. It took a couple of seconds for me to relax. He was silent as he rested his chin on the top of my head, and I didn’t say anything as I squeezed my eyes shut against the rising tide of emotion. Being this close to him again was something so powerful the connection was tangible, a third entity. One hand drifted up my back, a slow slide under the weight of my hair. He curled his fingers around the nape of my neck. His chin moved, grazing my forehead, and the intimacy of the act was so different than any of the other times he’d been this close. An odd warmth settled in my muscles. Like stepping out into the sun for the first time after a long winter. There was a moment when I wasn’t sure if he breathed, because I didn’t feel his chest move under my hands. In the back of my head, I wondered how...how okay this was. I didn’t want to pull away and break the connection, but I thought that maybe I should. This was innocent. It had to be, but it was also different.”

“You...you always made everything sound like it’s not a big deal. You’re doing that now.” His lips continued to curve on the right and the dimple appeared. Then he sighed and scooted forward, spreading his legs. His hands suddenly landed on my hips, and I almost dropped the cotton ball at the unexpected contact. My breath caught as he lowered me so I was sitting on the edge of the coffee table and he kept moving forward, the inside of his legs sliding against the outside of mine. The rough material of his jeans touching my bare skin sent a raw, drenching rush of sensation through my veins. “That better?” he asked, peering at me through lowered lashes. I blinked, having no idea what he was talking about, and then I realized that seated like this, it was easier to reach him. His hands dropped from my hips to rest on his thighs, and they were oh so close to mine.”

“You're beautiful when you're quiet and sombre, but when you laugh? You rival the sunrise over the Skotos Mountains.' He sounded so genuine, as if he truly meant that, and I couldn't understand it. 'Why do you say things like that?' His gaze searched mine. 'Because it's the truth.”

“... you're important to me, Poppy. Not because you're the Maiden, but because you're... you.' A knot of emotion formed in my chest and fought its way up my throat. I didn't give him a chance to realise what I was doing. I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him tightly. 'Thank you,' I murmured against his chest. Vikter was as stiff as a guard on the Rise for their very first time, but then he put his hands on my back. And patted me. I grinned. 'You know I'll never replace your father, nor would I ever try to, but you're like a daughter to me.' I hugged him tighter. He patted me again. 'I worry about you. Partly because it's my job, but mostly because it's you.' 'You're important to me, too.' My words were muffled against his chest. 'Even though you think my punches are weak.' His chuckle was rough as he dropped his chin to the top of my head. 'Your punches are weak when you're not doing them correctly. He pulled back, clasping my cheeks. 'But, girl, your aim is deadly. Don't ever forget that.”

“I felt your hunger, Casteel, and I don't need to do this. I stopped doing things I didn't want to do the moment I took off the damn veil. I want to help you. Because as stupid as this may make me, and only the gods know why, I care about you! So, yeah. I don't want to have my throat ripped open, and I also don't want to know that you're suffering for no reason.”

“I want to back up to this whole caring about me thing,” he said, surprising me as he made his way back to the canvas. “I know you care about me, Mallory.” My heart started beating fast as he shook the can. “I care about you.” He knelt halfway down. A second passed and he moved his arm, spraying on the canvas. “And I think this was missing something.” Having no idea what he was doing or where he was going with this, I waited until he rose and stepped back, to the side. My lips parted on a soft gasp. Rider had spray-painted a heart between our names. I saw it with my own eyes: Rider ღ Mallory Angling toward me, his grin was sheepish. Boyish. “That was probably really corny, wasn’t it?” My heart was doing overtime, thumping so fast I thought I might have a heart attack. “Or it was too much?” He tossed the can in a nearby trash can and slowly approached me. His cheeks were a vibrant pink.”

“I don’t want you involved in any of that.” “Because you care about me?” “Of course.” I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want to worry about you getting hurt.” He stepped in and his other hand settled just above my hip. “Because you want to be with me?” “Yes.” That word was easy to speak. Rider smiled then and the right dimple appeared. “You want to be my girlfriend.” I opened my mouth and then I laughed. It sounded strange after the seriousness of our conversation, but the statement was sweet and silly. His cheeks pinked. “Not sure how I feel about that laugh,” he teased. “But I do love the sound of it.” My breath caught at the word. Love. Oh, gosh, was that what was happening here? “So do you? Want to be my girlfriend?” he asked, and then chuckled. “Probably should’ve brought this up before I kissed you, but I want...I want to see where this goes, Mallory. I feel like we got a second chance, you know? I’ve been thinking that since I sat down in speech and saw you sitting there. We have a second chance. And who gets second chances?” I searched his gaze, feeling a rightness deep in my chest. I had thought the same thing before, about second chances. “I don’t want to pass that up.”