“
Let me know which stars you prefer. The ones above you, or the ones I make you see.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
When you make someone fall in love with the darkest parts of you, there’s nothing you can do that will scare them away. They will be yours forever because they already love all the fucked up bits and pieces of you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I want to slap him. But the asshole would probably like it, and then turn around and slap me back. And my dumbass self would probably like it, too.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Baby, you rule the fucking kingdom, and I will gladly bow to you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Cat got your tongue, little mouse?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
All I want to do is break her. Shatter her into pieces. And then arrange those pieces to fit against my own. I don’t care if they don’t fit—I’ll fucking make them.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Sneaking off with random men, little mouse? If I catch his hands anywhere near you, they’ll end up in your mailbox by morning. A
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Sometimes the happiest people are the saddest,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Love is an enigma, and it's redefined every time someone says it.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
If it’s real, then I’ve chased you across time and space, and you’ve never been able to get away.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Run, if I catch you, I f-k you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You and I will never end, little mouse. Even when we’re six feet under, and our bones are dust, I will haunt your soul until it aches to be free of me. And then, I will hold you tighter.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #2))
“
Zade,” he whispers against my lips. “That’s the only name that will ever leave your lips from now on, especially when you’re making that little pussy feel good. And when I’m making that pussy feel good, then you can call me God.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
If my redemption resides somewhere within you, then I will spend the rest of my life searching for it inside of you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’m not a jail, little mouse, I am your sanctuary.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Because then I wouldn’t be true to myself, little mouse. I love that I scare you. I love that you try to run from me. The push and pull. The cat and mouse game. I fucking love it. And I think a part of you does, too.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
His voice is full of dark promises and dangerous beginnings.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I guess I wanted to see roses all over your house, too. Maybe because you feel like home.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
This isn’t a climb to heaven. It’s a fall from grace.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
What you’re seeing now is what I see every day. No matter how far I run, how hard I try to escape you—you’re everywhere I go. You’re everything I see. Loving you is like being trapped in a house of mirrors, little mouse. And I’ve never felt so at home while being so lost inside you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’ll have her because she’s the first thing that made me feel something good in so long, and I’ve become obsessed with keeping it. I don’t have very many something goods in my life, and I don’t care if it makes me selfish for wanting to hold on to it.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
His eyes are tracing my curves like they're scripture, and he's a sinner that is searching for proof of a God that he no longer can hear.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
What did I tell you, little mouse? That you couldn’t escape me. If it’s real, then I’ve chased you across time and space, and you’ve never been able to get away.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
My body is just a vessel that my soul inhabits, attached to a shell that it'll one day leave. And when that day comes, I won’t care to let that shell go. I carry my body around because I have to, not because it's a choice. But when I possess something meaningful, I’m choosing to hold on to it. Carrying something meaningful in my skin is effortless but holding onto something that I could lose—that takes devotion.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I keep from gritting my teeth, though all I really want to do right now is grind them to dust. The main reason I don’t is because I would no longer be able to bite Addie’s clit.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Remember this moment,” he growls deeply, withdrawing to the tip before pushing deeper inside of me. “Because the next time I fuck you, you will be deeply in love with me, Adeline. I’m your stalker and a murderer, and you will love me anyways.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Let me feel you fall in love,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You can’t escape me, little mouse. I will always find you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Just don’t forget to scream my name when you’re holding that showerhead to your pussy. You can come knowing that I’ll be shouting yours, too.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You don’t need a cop to get me in handcuffs, baby. I’ll let you do anything you want to me.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
if I had fallen in love with a lie, I would’ve been devastated. I just wish he wasn’t such a bad guy. But then he’d be a different man—a man you might not be able to love.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I have never pretended to be a good person. But what I did do was create my own fucking morals to live by. I will keep killing every deranged individual who resides on this goddamn planet if it means children don’t have to die, and you don't have to live in danger.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
No matter how far I run, how hard I try to escape you --you're everywhere I go. You're everything I see. Loving you is like being trapped in a house of mirrors, little mouse. And I've never felt so at home while being so lost inside you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You’re going to murder him too?”
“Of course I am. Slowly, too. Start with snipping the Achille’s heel so he can’t run, and then—”
“That's fucked up, you're going to jail,” she cuts in, disgust curling her lip. “Actually, I hope you go to prison and are sentenced to death.”
She turns with a snarl, but she doesn’t make it a step before my hand snaps out, capturing her arm and whipping her back around, directly into my chest.
Addie inhales sharply, her eyes dilating as I seize the back of her neck with one hand and grab her delectable ass with the other, lifting her up against my body.
"Will you be my last meal, baby?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You have five seconds before I rearrange your organs,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You are in my church where I am your God, and you are my equal. I’m not a jail, little mouse, I am your sanctuary
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
The moment I saw her sitting in that bookstore, working to hide her nerves and anxiety, there I was—a grown-ass man, falling in obsession at first sight.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Come on, man. Are you this worked over a piece of ass? Her voice may be cut out for porn, and her pussy tight as fuck, but shit, you can find that in other bitches too. I’ve fucked plenty of them.” What was going to be a fairly slow death is now going to be the slowest death to ever happen since the dawn of humanity. It was bad enough that he spoke of my girl in such a disgusting manner, but then he went and topped it off by implying Addie isn’t anything special. She’s the first of her kind to exist, and there will never be another like her.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’m going to make her fall in love with every single fucked up part of me. I want this girl to see me at my most depraved. I want her to experience the true darkness residing in my soul.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Will you be my last meal, baby?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Because the first time I fuck you, I want you to have all of me. Not just bits and pieces.” He takes a breath. “I’m not whole right now. And I can’t worship you when all I see is her.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Oh, God—” she sucks in a sharp breath. “That’s right, I am your God.” “Zade!
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I don't think you know what love is," I whisper.
He grunts with amusement. "I don't think anyone does, baby. Love is an enigma, and it's redefined every time someone says it.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
That man ate the soul out of my body, and I don’t think I’ve gotten it back yet.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
There will never be an end to me and you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
An embarrassing scream escapes as he changes the angle of his hips and hits a spot that instantly makes my legs violently shake. “Oh my God,” I moan. And this time, I can’t stop my head from dropping back to the mirror behind me and my eyes from rolling backwards. “That's right, baby. I am your fucking God,” he growls before I feel his teeth sink into my neck.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I love storms—I just don’t like to be in them. I’d prefer to cuddle up under the blankets with a mug of tea and a book while listening to the rain fall.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
What he doesn’t know is that the minute I properly introduce myself to Adeline Reilly, she won’t be able to think of anyone else. I will devour her from the inside out, until every intake of breath will only stoke the inferno I've created inside her. Like oxygen feeding a fire, I will consume every inch of her sweet little body until she will think of nothing else but how to get me deeper inside of her.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I do love getting on my knees for you,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Instantly, her eyes widen into caramel marbles, and her face pales about five shades lighter. I’m ready to squirt some spray tan lotion on her if it means she doesn’t make it so damn obvious that she’s not happy to see me.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I can’t figure out what scares me more—him in the dark, or him in the light.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
My redemption is your salvation.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’m playing with fire. The more I provoke him, the more likely he is to come after me. But I can’t stop myself. I can’t stop the sharp thrill that I get every time I push back.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You taste like fucking nirvana,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You didn’t like my flowers?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Hey, Mom?” “Yes?” “Fuck off.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
If Addie and I have a daughter, I hope she has some goddamn sense and prefers black.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You traumatized me." He leans down and snips, "A gun in your pussy certainly is traumatizing, little mouse, but only because I used it to make you come, not to make you bleed.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
You haunt me. It’s only fair I return the sentiment.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Next, we’ll graduate to my wife and then the mother of my children.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I came awfully close to walking in here and shooting them all dead, but then I’d have to kill all their families too, and my girl doesn’t like it when I do that.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
And I will gladly cross every single line if it means making this girl mine. If it means forcing her to be mine.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I'll be seeing you soon, little mouse.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
The intensity in his eyes holds me in place as he walks to stand beside me, his chest brushing against my arm. He smells like leather and smoke. It’s intoxicating. He’s intoxicating
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
The dude gives fish a run for their money, the way he flops when he fucks. Might as well lay out naked in the fish market—he’d have a better chance of finding someone to take him home. That person is not going to be me.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Life strips you of power often, but what you can control is pointing the blame in the right direction.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Sometimes it feels like if I tried to cut her out of me anyways, I wouldn’t survive it.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
What are you feeling right now?" he asks softly.
My breathing escalates. "Confined."
"Trapped?" he volleys back. My mouth tightens because while a part of me wants to say yes, the truth is that I don't.
I feel... safe.
Protected.
Treasured.
"One day, you will realize that you are not trapped in a prison," he murmurs roughly. "You are in my church where I am your God, and you are my equal. I'm not a jail, little mouse, I am your sanctuary.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Just because the sun is pretty doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous to stare at, Addie.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
After a few seconds, she continues. “I admire you more than I can say for being one of far too few people willing actually to do something to save them. The world needs more people like you, Zade.”
“Maybe,” I murmur, giving in and placing a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. “But all I need is you.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I lose myself. My name. My identity. My soul. It’s been hurdled away into the vortex our bodies have created. Like being sucked into a wormhole and kicked out into a new universe.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I wanted to watch you,” he confesses. And then he tacks on with dry amusement, “In peace.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
He smells like leather and smoke. It’s intoxicating. He’s intoxicating.
Fear has a taste. Acidic, burnt metal. It numbs my tongue. Not just my tongue, but my entire being.
I’m so, so scared.
But yet, so… consumed by him.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Tell me, baby. What does drowning sound like?” “Like the first breath of air after being trapped underwater. It's a sound of both pain and relief. Of desperation and desire. When you’ve gone so long without oxygen, that first breath is the only thing that makes sense, and your body takes it in without permission.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I arch a brow, unimpressed with how low she has to bounce. Addie would never have that issue.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’ve just found myself a little mouse, and I won’t stop until I’ve trapped her.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’ll gladly sacrifice my name on her tongue if it means climbing up to heaven with her.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Whatever gets her to stop waving my grandmother’s crusty underwear in my face.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Tell me, little mouse, have you ever been fucked by a man like me?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I want to devour you,
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Sometimes, I’m not always sane.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
It has a way of making you feel small and insignificant when you're standing before a sight as beautiful as that
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
But not because I’m psychotic and delusional. I’m not going to make a goddamn shrine of her and convince myself that we were destined to be together by the gods or whatever weird shit people believe in these days.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
His mouth skates over my lips once before I watch a trail of saliva drip from his mouth into mine. “Swallow your juices,” he rasps. And I do. My throat works as the unique taste blooms across my tongue. He growls deep in his chest before he crushes his lips to mine.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
If you were my little girl, I would worship every inch of your body for as long as our souls are tethered to this earth. My tongue would leave no part of you untouched.” I nip at her bottom lip, wringing a whimper from her throat. “Untasted,” I murmur, my tongue darting out, sliding along the seam of her lips.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Something is clearly wrong with me.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Oxygen, words, coherent thoughts—all that shit escapes me when I get my first look at Adeline Reilly in the flesh.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
And when we come down, the stars surrounding us suddenly look so dull and lifeless compared to the ones shining in her eyes.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I don’t have the goddamn time to deal with small fish when I have Great Whites floating around in my ocean. Too bad for them, I’m a fucking Megalodon.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
It’s not right—how beautiful he is. He’s definitely the fucking Devil. I’m sure of it now more than ever.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I don't care if we're reincarnated or not. Here and now, this is fucking real. And in this lifetime, you are mine.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I’m a big man, but I’m just as capable of throwing out my back as the next person. I’m still a human fucking being.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
So, not only do you only fear me in the daylight, but you only love me when I’m making you come.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to allow you the opportunity to run and hide. If I find you, then I will deliver your punishment. If I don’t, you go unpunished and I will leave.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Does anything about the way I love you feel tragic?” I ask, brushing my lips across her jaw. “Yes,” she whimpers. “But only because one day it will end.” A growl rips from my throat, and I fist her hair, tipping her head back and forcing her to see the truth. “You and I will never end, little mouse. Even when we’re six feet under, and our bones are dust, I will haunt your soul until it aches to be free of me. And then, I will hold you tighter.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Hunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #2))
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
I'm living in a Victorian gothic dreamhouse.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
For centuries. Both of us wearing different faces, inhabiting different bodies. But the same souls, colliding over and over, until this planet decides to crumble and our souls have nowhere else to go.” I hum in amusement, enjoying the quickening of her breath. “Can you imagine it?” I ask softly. I pluck a nipple between my fingers, another low groan vibrating my chest. She shivers beneath my touch, her little pants desperate and breathy. “Can you imagine what it would feel like to have my love for that long?
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))
“
Tell me, Addie. Do you think killing pedophiles is wrong?” he asks sharply, his one light eye shining bright in the darkness. “I think killing people is wrong,” I shout in his face, breathing heavily and allowing my body a moment’s rest. I’m scared, but my body is exhausted. “Why?” he volleys back. “Because society told you it was? Because humans fabricated morals so they can control and manipulate people into law and order? Do you think other mammals follow the same morals and rules? We’re all fucking animals, baby. The only difference is I don’t suppress mine.
”
”
H.D. Carlton (Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse, #1))