“Who says I have rules?" She waves off my question. "Oh, please. You have so many rules, your rules have rules.”

“His hands come down on my face. “There are a lot of things I want to do to you, Ella, but I promise you, killing you isn’t one of them.” His mouth slants over mine, his tongue delving deep, and I want to resist. I do. I try. But his lips are warm when mine are cold, and the taste of him, passion and fire, and yes, demand, burns through me, tempting me, taking me. And for just a moment, I can’t seem to help myself. I want to be possessed by this man. I want to be consumed, so I kiss him back. I kiss him like it’s my last kiss, because maybe it is.”

“Laughter is like crying.”

“The art does not always mimic the artist. You never know the real person until you slide beneath their surface”

“I've always known we were two puzzle pieces that fit together in a hollow that is our pain. There was a time when I was certain we were too damaged not to destroy each other. Now I think we are saving each other.”

“And I dare to believe that it really is. I dare to bet on us again.”

“I do not know what to do with the emotions inside me. I do not know how to be this close to someone and still hold on to myself.”

“Who says I have rules?" She waves off my question. "Oh, please. You have so many rules, your rules have rules.”