β
Remind me," he paused, drawing in a stuttered gasp, "to never piss you off again. Christ, are you secretly a ninja?
β
β
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Obsidian (Lux, #1))
β
Yeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot. Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be overkill. But it'd be cool if the biker skeleton could be shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire.
β
β
Richelle Mead (Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1))
β
I may not look like much, but I'm an expert at pretending to be a ninja.
β
β
Darynda Jones (First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson, #1))
β
Sure, in a ninja's world, those who violate the rules and fail to follow orders...are lower than garbage. However...those who do not care for and support their fellows...are even lower than that!" - Obito Uchiha
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 27: Departure (Naruto, #27))
β
I mean, we're ninjas."
"Well maybe you're a ninja," I said
"You're just a really loud, awkward ninja," Margo said, "but we are both ninjas.
β
β
John Green (Paper Towns)
β
Maybe Park had paralyzed her with his ninja magic, his Vulcan handhold, and now he was going to eat her.
That would be awesome.
β
β
Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park)
β
I have a ninja sitting shotgun. Of course, I'm tense.
β
β
Courtney Allison Moulton (Angelfire (Angelfire, #1))
β
Am I not ninja enough? Are you saying that I lack ninja?
β
β
Rachel Caine (Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires, #10))
β
You know what? "Kilowatt-hour per sol" is a pain in the ass to say. I'm gonna invent a new scientific unit name. One kilowatt-hour per sol is... it can be anything... um... I suck at this... I'll call it a "pirate-ninja".
β
β
Andy Weir (The Martian)
β
You'll start talking, and pretty soon we'll all start nodding, and then the next thing you know, I'm hang gliding off the Eiffel Tower at night, being chased by ninja vampires
β
β
Kathy Reichs (Seizure (Virals, #2))
β
Ty is like... a ninja on crack.
β
β
Abigail Roux (Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run, #5))
β
I was just kidding, shuck-face," Minho said. "Let's all go over there. She could have an army of psycho girl ninjas hiding in that shack of hers."
"Psycho girl ninjas?" Newt repeated, his voice showing he was surprised, if not annoyed, by Minho's additude.
β
β
James Dashner (The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner, #2))
β
Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, theyβre no good.
β
β
Etgar Keret
β
I launched into a graceful ninja-like front roll, then stood my ground to face the monstrous heathen, fearless in my determination to vanquish the deadly foe.
Nah, just kidding. I bolted, discretion being the better part of not getting dead.
β
β
A. Kirk (Demons at Deadnight (Divinicus Nex Chronicles, #1))
β
It was a lame excuse, and I knew that wasn't the reason he was canceling. If he wanted to avoid me, I would have preferred he made up something about how he and the other guardians had to up Moroi security or practice top-secret ninja moves.
β
β
Richelle Mead (Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2))
β
I'm just saying it's not all sand castles and ninjas.
β
β
Libba Bray (Going Bovine)
β
Stop," I said. "Please do not further endorken yourself to me. You have great hair and a car that is most fly, and you have just saved me with your mad ninja driving skills, so do not sully your heroic hottie image in my mind by further reciting your nerdy scholastic agenda. Don't tell me what you're studying, Steve, tell me what's in your soul. What haunts you?"
And he was like, "Dude, you need to cut back on the caffeine.
β
β
Christopher Moore (You Suck (A Love Story, #2))
β
Iβm not thrilled. And I totally reserve the right to angst over all this later. But honestly, Mom? Right now, Iβm so happy to see you that I wouldnβt care if youβre secretly a ninja sent from the future to destroy kittens and rainbows.
β
β
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
β
Did you see my ninja move?That was fast, right?"
"You are not a ninja, Shane."
"I've watched all the movies. I just haven't gotten the certificate from the correspondence course yet.
β
β
Rachel Caine
β
I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate⦠I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future⦠never really thought about it. As for my hobbies⦠I have lots of hobbies.
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto
β
I never go back on my word! That's my nindo, my ninja way!
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto
β
They looked so dangerous, like alligators. Really fast alligators wearing black. Ninja alligators. I decided not to use that one on Megan.
β
β
Brandon Sanderson (Steelheart (The Reckoners, #1))
β
n the world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto
β
Medicine cabinets are dangerous. Those doors, man. They'll just spring on you like a ninja.
β
β
Barry Lyga (I Hunt Killers (I Hunt Killers, #1))
β
You think Bernadette Maguire killed him?β
βUhβ¦ no. Sheβs, like I said, sheβs old.β
βOld people can kill people too.β
βI know, butβ¦β
βShe could be a ninja.β
βSheβs not a ninja, for Godβs sake. Sheβs somebodyβs great grandmother.β
βI want you to think carefully about this, Kenny. Have you ever seen her with a sword?β
βWhat?β
βHow about throwing stars?β
βThis is ridiculous.β
βHave you ever seen her dressed up as a ninja? That would have been my ο¬rst clue.β
The girl sucked in her cheeks so she wouldn't laugh out loud.
β
β
Derek Landy (Death Bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant, #6))
β
Yeah, nerdship could be inherited as surely as any knighthood
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
As far as I knew, Nadia was still with her new guy, some fancy tennis player from Brazil. Donatello or Michelangelo or something. Ninja Turtle? Yeah.
β
β
Ilsa Madden-Mills (Dirty English (English, #1))
β
Of course it didnβt make senseβ¦ knowledge was finite, imagination was not.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
..."Fun?" you ask. "Weren't feminists these grim-faced, humorless, antifamily, karate-chopping ninjas who were bitter because they couldn't get a man?" Well, in fact the problem was that all too many of them HAD gotten a man, married him, had his kids, and then discovered that, as mothers, they were never supposed to have their own money, their own identity, their own aspirations, time to pee, or a brain. And yes, some women indeed became bad-tempered as a result. After all, no anger, no social change.
β
β
Susan J. Douglas
β
Before Keto could notice, Hedge pointed towards the top of the amphitheater. It looked like he might be screaming, Gods of Olympus, what is that?
Keto turned. Coach Hedge promptly took off his fake foot and ninja-kicked her in the back of the head with his goat hoof.
β
β
Rick Riordan (The Mark of Athena (The Heroes of Olympus, #3))
β
I might have been more worried if I hadn't been defending myself against six brothers my whole life. And if I didn't have a mother who thought she was a ninja.
β
β
Alyxandra Harvey (Blood Feud (Drake Chronicles, #2))
β
Most Shadowhunters get their first Marks at twelve. It must have been in your blood.β
βMaybe. Although I doubt most Shadowhunters get a tattoo of Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on their left shoulder.β
Jace looked baffled. βYou wanted a turtle on your shoulder?β
-Jace & Clary, pg. 314-
β
β
Cassandra Clare (City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1))
β
Super-secret Ninja Club sounds way cooler than the whole BFF thing.
β
β
Stephenie Meyer (The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (The Twilight Saga, #3.5))
β
Yeah, so if that guy can make it in drunk, surely we can make it in sober. I mean, weβre ninjas.'
'Well, maybe youβre a ninja,' I said.
'Youβre just a really loud, awkward ninja,' Margo said, 'but we are both ninjas.
β
β
John Green
β
No ninjas! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without any ninjas! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your safety.
β
β
Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1))
β
You use your tits the way a ninja assassin uses nunchuks.
β
β
Shannon McKenna (Extreme Danger (McClouds & Friends #5))
β
Got to keep thatin mind. I'm a ninja now... I swore I'd never freeze up or run away again... AND I WON'T...!
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 02: The Worst Client (Naruto, #2))
β
What are you doing?"
"Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly.
It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window.
"Um, did I just say, 'Ya'?"
"You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed. "If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me.
I, uh..." She stopped to laugh. "I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.
β
β
Shannon Hale (Austenland (Austenland, #1))
β
Maybe you're graduating from fireballs to lightning bolts," Adrian suggested. "I bet it'd be a lot like throwing ninja stars. Except, well, you could incinerate people.
β
β
Richelle Mead (The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines, #3))
β
I call this one the Ninja Center-fold! ~ Naruto
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto, #1))
β
Hiding is for babies. And ninjas.
β
β
Sara Wolf (Brutal Precious (Lovely Vicious, #3))
β
Larry's zombie bag was a nearly virulent green with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on it. I was almost afraid to ask what his vampire bag looked like.
β
β
Laurell K. Hamilton (Bloody Bones (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #5))
β
Yeah, I'm kind of proud of myself, too. I was a fucking sex ninja.
β
β
Victoria Dahl (Start Me Up (Tumble Creek, #2))
β
Tristan, dressed in all black with a long dagger in his hand, exited the den as Gabriel reached the main floor . Gabriel stopped whistling and paused. βPlease tell me youβre going to a ninja convention.
β
β
Chelsea Fine (Anew (The Archers of Avalon, #1))
β
Including a mention of your impressive record....The man who had penetrated and copied over a thousand techniques.. Kakashi the mirror ninja.
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 02: The Worst Client (Naruto, #2))
β
Stupid werewolf ninja sperm.
β
β
Molly Harper
β
Ninja chicken isn't he?" You grinned at me, rolling your sleeves up."We'll see about that."
You reached into the cage. Instantly Dick was onto your hand, clawing at you, biting chunks with his beak.
"Godamn rooster!
β
β
Lucy Christopher (Stolen (Stolen, #1))
β
Hey...You.. What's life without eyebrows, freak? Got a new listing for your bingo book right here!! A guyis going to be the next lord hokage of Konohagakure village. Uzumaki Naruto! Konoha-school NINJA!
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 02: The Worst Client (Naruto, #2))
β
Then in one fluid, unbelievably quick motion, he rolled off and stood. Jesus, the guy was part alien, part human, and part ninja.
β
β
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Obsession)
β
So, I heard you're this ninja or something.
β
β
Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)
β
P.S. You'll have to meet with Dan's principal when you get back. He got in trouble for doing ninja moves in class. Don't worry. This happens all the time.
β
β
Rick Riordan (The Black Book of Buried Secrets)
β
Sasori, your strength came because of your soul, not in spite of it... You were supposed to be a a top-class ninja puppeteer, not a worthless nobody who lets someone else pull the strings.
- Kankurou (Naruto Ch 518)
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto
β
Monstrous not just for what they were, but for what was done to them, as pitiable as Mary Shellyβs creation, as human and forlorn.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
As the body floated in darkness, his soul gathered itself, and waited for what was to come.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
Who was she to question the fantastical? She was an invisible naked chick off to steal a magic sword.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
Stomach full of jitters, little beasts that were second cousins to guacamoliansβlittle green monsters that wreaked havoc in your stomach.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
And supernatural? Only science not yet understood.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
That damn mara was an emotional ninja, sneaking up on your heart when you least expected it.
β
β
Rachel Vincent (With All My Soul (Soul Screamers, #7))
β
The two shadows, black against the dark, defined by voids of light, moved at impossible speeds.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
Afraid to live, too cowardly to die.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
There was something that resonated on a deep⦠spiritual level⦠about cutting a man in half.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
What're you still doing up? You know all good little ninjas should be in bed, visions of homicidal sugarplums dancing in their heads.
β
β
Rob Thurman (Nightlife (Cal Leandros, #1))
β
Even as she fell, her bones lit through her skin, he spun blindly, and drew the sword in a flash that would have made Musashi gasp.
β
β
William Kely McClung (Super Ninja: The Sword of Heaven)
β
Oh, sure. Let me just ask my geek brother to stop slaying zombie ninjas for a few hours so I can borrow the PC and catch up on my Victorian horror lit.
β
β
Kelly Creagh (Nevermore (Nevermore, #1))
β
I'll probably never fully become what I wanted to be when I grew up, but that's probably because I wanted to be a ninja princess.
β
β
Cassandra Duffy
β
Rachel pulled out a blue plastic hairbrush and threw it at the nearest barbarian, beaning him in the eye and making him howl. Sorry I underestimated you, Rachel, I thought distantly. Youβre actually kind of a hairbrush ninja.
β
β
Rick Riordan (The Tower of Nero (The Trials of Apollo, #5))
β
You can't call a ninja lord dweeb.
β
β
Rick Riordan (The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, #1))
β
Reread that Bronte book all you want, but Jane Eyre's never going to get gender-reassignment surgery or train to become a kick-ass ninja assassin.
β
β
Chuck Palahniuk (Damned (Damned, #1))
β
She's like a kindness ninja. Sneaking around in order to help people.
β
β
A.S. King (Everybody Sees the Ants)
β
Ninjas are silly. They are the flower fairies of gong fu and karate.
β
β
Nick Harkaway (The Gone-Away World)
β
Ninjas don't wish upon a star, they throw them.
β
β
Jarius Raphel
β
We were all dressed like a ragtag group of reject ninjas.
β
β
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Opal (Lux, #3))
β
Achievement. Just another skill of a ninja.
β
β
Jarius Raphel
β
I need to talk to you. I had a weird dream."
"Let me guess. You got tied up by lady ninjas. With big hooters."
"Uh, no." I take a sip of coffee and wince. It was ridiculously strong.
My grandfather shoves a strip of bacon in his mouth with a grin. "Guess it would have been kind of weird if we'd had the same dream."
I roll my eyes. "Well, you'd better not tell me anything else. Don't ruin the surprise in case I have it tonight.
β
β
Holly Black (White Cat (Curse Workers, #1))
β
Iβm so happy to see you that I wouldnβt care if youβre secretly a ninja sent from the future to destroy kittens and rainbows.
β
β
Rachel Hawkins (Spell Bound (Hex Hall, #3))
β
To become a vampire, you must be bitten by one. To become a ninja, you first have to allow yourself to be one.
β
β
Jarius Raphel
β
Because Iβm an English ninja,β Tanith replied. βWeβre just like regular ninjas, except we wear leather and flirt more.
β
β
Derek Landy (Trick or Treat (Skulduggery Pleasant, #6.4))
β
Before I could even raise a hand, he spun around like the wind, letting go of the dagger. It smacked into the chest of the white-garbed Guard sneaking up on him. Darting forward, he pulled the blade free before the Guard collapsed, and then threw it again, taking out the other Guard whoβd cornered Solos.
Damn. Aiden was a badass ninja.
β
β
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Apollyon (Covenant, #4))
β
If they think first place is the winner, then they don't know a ninja.
β
β
Jarius Raphel
β
Hidan: Hey, look at that, it's my headband! You went to the trouble of picking it up and keeping for me? I'm touched. You're a pretty nice guy, Kakuzu, you knwo that?
Kakuzu: Shut up. Let's go.
Hidan: Let me put it on at least! Okay, I'm coming. Admit it, you like me a little, doncha?
Kakuzu: Either you shut up, or I'll kill you.
Hidan: Haha, you're embarrassed! I understand.
β
β
Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto, #1))
β
Okay," Claire finally said. "I admit, he has significant ninja qualities."
"Booyah. I will summon the ninja. Oh, and take a lunch break while we burgle."
"Youβre going too?"
"Am I not ninja enough? Are you saying that I lack ninja?
β
β
Rachel Caine (Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires, #10))
β
Sleep just go to sleep.
Cam lived across the hall?
You need to get up early. Go to sleep.
How in the world was that possible? He was everywhere I went.
Go to sleep.
And why did he have a pet turtle and did he seriously name it after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because that was kind of funny.
Morning's going to come soon.
Did he only wear a shirt during class? Oh my God, he seriously lived across the hall. Jacob was going to flip...and probably move in. That would be fun. I really liked Jacob, but I had a feeling he'd borrow my clothes.
Go the fuck to sleep.
β
β
J. Lynn (Wait for You (Wait for You, #1))
β
Wise men say, 'Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza.
β
β
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
β
Niten's eyes didn't move, but a trace of a smile curled his lips. "I do not need my eyes to tell me where I'm going."
"I have no idea what that means," Josh said. "Is it like some sort of ninja trick?"
Niten shot Josh a warning look. "Whatever you do, don't mention-"
It was too late. In the backseat Aoife stirred. "Ninjas," she spat. "Why is everyone so obsessed with ninjas? They were never that good. And they were cowards, sneaking around in their black pajamas, stabbing their victims with poisoned darts. I hate ninjas-they have no honor.
β
β
Michael Scott (The Necromancer (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #4))
β
Two hours. More than enough time to kidnap a man. Or to slice his throat, bury him in the forest, and steal his magic project. How the hell did de Harven fit into it? Did he surprise the thieves? Of course, Adam Kamen could've killed his uber-bodyguard and bolted with the goods. Because he was secretly a ninja, adept at mortal combat and vanishing into thin air. Yes, that was it. Case solved.
β
β
Ilona Andrews (Magic Slays (Kate Daniels, #5))
β
Love was never enough, not without mutual respect and a great deal of drudgery and effort. And even then, it wasn't enough. Wanting each other, being open to change, pushing each other to improve and grow--for the better--working to deserve each other, was the key.
β
β
Penny Reid (Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5))
β
What is it youβre interested in exactly?β the man asked
slowly. βJust the color?β
βI think we both know,β said Adrian cunningly. βI want the
color. I want the βbonus effects.β And I want it to look
badass. You probably canβt even do the design I want.β
βThatβs the least of your worries,β said the guy. βIβve been
doing this for years. I can draw anything you want.β
βYeah? Can you draw a skeleton riding a motorcycle with
flames coming out of it? And I want a pirate hat on the
skeleton. And a parrot on his shoulder. A skeleton parrot.
Or maybe a ninja skeleton parrot? No, that would be
overkill. But itβd be cool if the biker skeleton could be
shooting some ninja throwing stars. That are on fire.β
βThatβs the most ridiculous thing Iβve ever heard,β said the
tattooist.
βThatβs not what the ladies are going to say,β said Adrian
β
β
Richelle Mead (Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1))
β
The warrior learns of the spiritual realm by dwelling on the cutting edge of the sword, standing at the edge of the fire pit, venturing right up to the edge of starvation if necessary. Vibrant and intense living is the warrior's form of worship.
β
β
Stephen K. Hayes
β
Gregori leaned forward. "Can you believe it? We're all a bunch of mutants! Just like the Ninja Turtles."
Angus blinked. "We - we're like... turtles?"
Gregori burst out lauging.
Ian shook his head, grinning.
Connor snorted. "Nay. We have vampire DNA. No turtles.
β
β
Kerrelyn Sparks (Be Still My Vampire Heart (Love at Stake, #3))
β
Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
β
β
Penny Reid (Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5))
β
When they got to thew bottom of the stairwell, they stopped dead. Blay's father was facing off with a lesser, a Civil War sword in one hand, a dagger in the other.
Behind his Joe Friday glasses, his eyes were lit like torches, and they flicked over for a split second. "Stay out of this. This one's mine."
The shit was done faster than you can say, Ninja Dad.
Blay's father went Ginsu on the slayer, carving the thing up like a turkey, then stabbing it back to the Omega.
β
β
J.R. Ward (Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #6))
β
As I was saying...They train these girls to be like tiny ninjas. They have to earn special badges for the survival skills that they learn, kinda like how we teach the cadets. Now to balance out all the weapons training and harshness of wilderness survival, they also teach them to bake cookies.
β
β
Alanea Alder (My Brother's Keeper (Bewitched and Bewildered, #5))
β
If they donβt learn about launching rockets at home, then theyβll just learn about it on the streets.β I glowered at him. βThat sounds like something Hitler would say.
β
β
Penny Reid (Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5))
β
Room is outfitted with onyx as a security precaution," he continued, his dark brown eyes focused on mine again. "In case you somehow are able to tap into the Source or attack any member of my staff. With hybrids, we never know the extent of your abilities."
Right now I didn't think I'd be able to sit up without assistance, let alone go ninja on anyone.
β
β
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Origin (Lux, #4))
β
Booyah, I will summon the ninja. Oh, and take a lunch break while we burgle."
"You're going, too?"
"Am I not ninja enough? Are you saying that I lack ninja?"
"No, I was just thinking you're a little, uh, recognizable, maybe?"
Eve batted her thick eyelashes. "Why, thank you, sweetie. That's the nicest insult I've had today, not counting the jock who said he'd date me but he had a restraining order out for necrophelia.
β
β
Rachel Caine (Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires, #10))
β
Meditate. I practice Transcendental Meditation and believe that it has enhanced my open-mindedness, higher-level perspective, equanimity, and creativity. It helps slow things down so that I can act calmly even in the face of chaos, just like a ninja in a street fight. Iβm not saying that you have to meditate in order to develop this perspective; Iβm just passing along that it has helped me and many other people and I recommend that you seriously consider exploring it.
β
β
Ray Dalio (Principles: Life and Work)
β
Gregβs eyes narrowed on me, but this mouth curved to one side. βI donβt know . . . that feels like something Hitler would say.
β
β
Penny Reid (Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5))
β
As we stepped inside, I waited for it to get strange, now that I could see him clearly againβhis brown eyes, his reddish hair, his freckles. But it didnβt. And I didnβt understand why until Iβd gotten back into the car and Frank had waved at me from the door and Iβd turned in the direction of home. It seemed that somewhere between the arguments about the merits of ninja movies, heβd stopped being Frank Porter, class president, unknowable person. Heβd stopped being a stranger, a guy, someone I didnβt know how to talk to. βThat night, in the darkness, sharing our secrets and favorite pizza-topping preferences, heβd moved closer to just being Frankβmaybe, possibly, even my friend.
β
β
Morgan Matson (Since You've Been Gone)
β
Still, Lindsay stops getting dressed, even though he's only half-done, because he gets this urge to ambush the kid with a hug. Just that, nothing else. He wraps his arms around Valentine's skinny body and pulls him close and rests his cheek on the still-damp hair and inhales the cherry-almond scent of his shampoo, and Valentine says, "Oh!" in a really odd way, like he's just read a particularly interesting fact on the back of a Penguin biscuit wrapper. Lindsay's got his eyes shut but he can feel the kid's hands creeping up his bare arms, over his shoulders. One stays there and the other comes to rest on the back of his neck, fingers playing idly with the ends of his hair, and several minutes pass without sound or movement, just the gentle thud of heartbeats.
"What's that for?" Valentine asks, when Lindsay finally lets him go.
"Don't know. Nothing. Just seemed the kind of thing you'd like. BAM, surprise ninja cuddles.
β
β
Richard Rider (Stockholm Syndrome (Stockholm Syndrome, #1))
β
What are you doing?β
Ya!β said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly.
It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martinβs window.
Um, did I just say, βYaβ?β
You just said βYa,ββ he confirmed. βIf I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me.β
I, uh. . .β She stopped to laugh. βI wasnβt aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.β
***
Surely a young beauty like yourself is lonely, too. It can be part of the game, if you like.β
Get off,β she said, thoroughly done with this.
His answer was to lean in closer. So she kneed him in groin. As hard as she could.
Aw, ow, dammit!β He doubled over and thudded onto knees.
Jane brushed off her knee, feeling like it had touched son thing dirty. βAw, ow, dammit indeed! Whatβre you thinking?β
Jane heard hurried footsteps coming down the stairs. It Mr. Nobley.
Miss Erstwhile!β He was barefoot in his breeches, his shirt untucked. He glanced down at the groaning man. βSir Templeton!β
Ow, she kicked me,β said Sir Templeton.
Kneed him, I kneed him,β Jane said. βI donβt kick. Not even when 1m a ninja.β
Mr. Nobley stood a moment in silence, looking over the scene. βI hope you
remembered to shout βYaβ when taking him down. I hear that is very effective.β
Iβm afraid I neglected that bit, but Iβll certainly βyaβ from here to London if he ever touches me again.
β
β
Shannon Hale