“
A kiss from the Captain would probably melt my central processor.”
Thorne winked at her. “Oh trust me. It would.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Winter (The Lunar Chronicles, #4))
“
That’s the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin,” he said with a wink. “Once you’re there, the only thing you can really do is leave again.
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1))
“
Who says you can’t be cute and kick ass at the same time?” Kenji winks at me. “I do it every day.
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Restore Me (Shatter Me, #4))
“
I shot him a look. "That bouncer was really big."
His lips quirked. "Oh, Kitten, see, I try not to say bad things."
"What?"
The grin spread. "I would say size doesn't matter but it does. I would know." he winked, and I let out a disgusted groan. He laughed.
”
”
Jennifer L. Armentrout (Opal (Lux, #3))
“
He opened the door wider. "He's waiting." He gave me what was probably meant to be a significant wink, but a corner of his mouth moved more than his eye did and the result was a fairly startling face.
”
”
Dashiell Hammett (The Thin Man)
“
I stepped away from the wall and tried to put on a happy face. It didn't work. "Hi."
"She says that so well." Mal turned to me and winked.
”
”
Kylie Scott (Lick (Stage Dive, #1))
“
I know what party you’re talking about. I might have to swing through. Especially if you’re going to be there in a costume.” He winked and leaned back in his seat.
“I’m going as a homeless person.”
“Sexy.
”
”
Chanelle Gray (My Heart Be Damned)
“
This doesn't mean you're getting a discount."
Audrey heaved a mock sigh. "Oh well. I guess I'll have to ply you with sexual favors, then."
Gnome choked on the soup. "I'm old enough to be your grandfather!"
Audrey winked at him, gathering the empty bags. "But you're not.
”
”
Ilona Andrews (Fate's Edge (The Edge, #3))
“
Declan said, "Can we pause for a moment and remark on the fact that both of you have spoken to the Prince of the Pit? Is no one else about to puke at the thought?"
Ruhn held up a hand, and Tharion lazily lifted one from the bench, but Bryce high-fived Hunt. "Special kids club," she said to the angel, who winked at her.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2))
“
Nikolai winked at her. "If I had anyone but Genya Safin in charge, I might be worried."
Zoya rolled her eyes. "She doesn't need your flattery. She already thinks enough of herself."
"Let him go on," said Genya. "David never gives me pretty compliments."
"Don't I?" asked David. He patted his pocket absently. "I have the list of your good qualities you gave me somewhere."
"You see what I endure?
”
”
Leigh Bardugo (King of Scars (King of Scars, #1))
“
Shay opened his palm, a Hershey's Kiss rested in his hand.
Mason winked at him. ''Welcome to the table, man. I hope you survive.''
''I think I'll manage.'' He turned the silver-wrapped chocolate in his fingers. ''Thanks for this. There's nothing quite like a really good kiss.''
His mouth crinkled in a smile and he cast me a sidelong glance, making my toes curl.
”
”
Andrea Cremer (Nightshade (Nightshade, #1; Nightshade World, #4))
“
Fate’s funny like that, sticking her hand into places that at the time you want to curse her for—then, years later, you just want to nod and wink at her as you move into that sweet spot you’ve been hoping for all those years.
”
”
A. Wilding Wells (A Mess of Reason: (A Sexy Naughty Best Friends To Lovers Feel Good Romance ))
“
They came close. Oh they came close. Was all set to put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger. But there was a computer glitch. Isnt that something? A stupid glitch and I had to wait a few days and then I saw the errors of my ways, saw so clearly that I was killing the wrong person. Its not me that needs killing, its them. Funny how things can change in the wink of an eye.
”
”
Hubert Selby Jr. (Waiting Period)
“
BE REAL
Bring it on-
And let truth be my existence.
Value my life-
And tell me like it is.
Bark at me when I'm wrong-
And hug me when I'm right.
Praise me if I succeed-
And tell me if I fail.
Laugh at me if you think I'm funny-
And wink at me if you think I'm cute.
Yell at me if I ever hurt you-
And scold me if I'm ever bad.
Keep things real with me,
Because I want to be alive,
I want my world to be real-
And I want to see your spirit.
I want to hear you breathe-
And I want to know how you feel.
Don’t waste my time with insincerities.
Keep my world real.
”
”
Giorge Leedy (Uninhibited From Lust To Love)
“
I’ll just say you had a family emergency.” Holden winked. “Perhaps future-family emergency, how does that sound?
”
”
Ali Hazelwood (The Love Hypothesis)
“
Don’t do it gurl,” he said with a wink. “You need to pretend like that phone is your best friend’s husband’s dick now drop it.
”
”
Ethan Day (Life in Fusion (Summit City, #2))
“
You have terminated me,” one of them said in a strange, flat voice. “But I
am one of many.”
“Robots!” Iggy breathed, taking Total from Angel.
“One of many, one of many, one of many,” the robot Eraser was saying. Now
Nudge saw the red light in its eyes, saw how they were fading and winking out.
“Good!” spat the Gasman, kicking it hard. “Because we like to blow stuff up,
blow stuff up, blow stuff up!
”
”
James Patterson
“
I hate wearing the helmet but I don’t want the humans falling in love with me. They couldn’t handle all this.” She winked before disappearing into one of the rooms."-Breeze
”
”
Laurann Dohner
“
Bryce explained everything again, and Hunt couldn't keep himself from tugging her closer. When she finished, Ruhn echoed Hunt's words. "We got lucky tonight. You got lucky tonight."
Bryce winked at Hunt. "And I plan to get lucky again."
"Gross," Ruhn said as Declan snickered.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2))
“
Something in me didnt believe that. I read it again, trying to make sense of the old-fashioned language. Mason watched me curiously, looking like he very much wanted to help.
"Maybe they were hooking up," he suggested.
I laughed. "He was a saint."
"So? Saints probably like sex too. That 'brother and sister' stuff is probably a cover." He pointed to one of the lines. "See? They were 'bound' together." He winked. "It's code.
”
”
Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1))
“
This is Tez Jones,” I said. “He’s a police detective from Tampa.”
“Oh, my,” said Martha, blinking up at him. “Is something wrong?”
“Nope,” said Tez, grinning at her and offering a saucy wink. “I’m just the boyfriend.”
“Well, then.” She sized him up, and nodded.“It’s about time Elizabeth found someone who deserved her.”
“I worship at her dainty feet.
”
”
Michele Bardsley (Cross Your Heart (Broken Heart, #7))
“
This is my friend Veronica,” I told him. “And this is Kaidan.”
“Oh, I've heard all about you.” Veronica gave him a big smile.
His brow elevated, but he didn't take the bait. Instead, he stared at me funny. “Nice wart.” Leaning forward without touching me, he flicked the wart from the tip of my nose.
Veronica let out a loud cackle, proving she should be the one in my costume.
“I told you it was stupid!” She gloated.
With my pointer finger, I moved the paint around my nose to fill in the blank spot. When I finished, he was still watching me.
“Your hair's grown a lot,” I said to him.
“So has your bottom.”
My eyes rounded and blood rushed to my face. Veronica hooted with hilarity, bending at the waist. Even Jay let out a loud snicker, the traitor.
I wished Kaidan weren't so perceptive, but it was true. The feminine curves that had always eluded me were finally making an appearance. Stupid tight dress.
“Dude, you can get away with anything,” said the pirate to the straight-faced ape.
“I meant it as a compliment.”
“That was awesome.” Veronica grabbed Jay by the hand. “Come on. Let's go find me a drink.”
She winked at me as they ambled away. I gave my attention to the dry, trampled grass and scattered cans for a moment before working up the nerve to say something.
“My dad gave me a cell phone.” And a car. And a ton of money.
Kaidan set the ape head on the ground and pulled his phone from a fuzzy pocket, blowing off brown lint. Then he held his furry thumbs above the buttons and nodded at me. I started to give him my number, but his brow creased in frustration with the big, costumed hands.
“Here,” I said, taking his phone. Saving my number for him gave me a thrill.
”
”
Wendy Higgins (Sweet Evil (Sweet, #1))
“
He rolled his eyes. " What Claire?"Claire snickered. " Corned-beef again?"Henry narrowed his eyes at her. " I like corned-beef, leave me alone."Claire laughed as he took a big bite of his sandwich while glaring at her. Ethan giggled as he watched the two of them. " What's so funny?" Henry asked Ethan around a mouthful of food, making him giggle some more. " Ew, Henry, that's gross," Claire groaned. Then Henry stopped her heart by winking at her. He freaking winked at her! Who the hell is this guy?! Claire gaped at him, trying to figure out who this person was. Henry rolled his green eyes at her. " What now?" he asked after swallowing his food. " Who are you and what have you done with Henry Beck?" Claire demanded. Henry gave her a bored look, but that couldn't hide the slight blush on his cheeks. " Whatever.
”
”
Andria Large (Henry (The Beck Brothers, #1))
“
Going?’' Vin asked, perking up. ‘'But you just got in!”
‘'That’s the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin.’' he said with a wink. “Once you’re there, the only thing you can really do is leave again.
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1))
“
Casy said, "Ol' Tom's house can't be more'n a mile from here. Ain't she over that third rise?"
Sure," said Joad. "Less somebody stole it, like Pa stole it."
Your pa stole it?"
Sure, got it a mile an' a half east of here an' drug it. Was a family livin' there, an' they moved away. Grampa an' Pa an' my brother Noah like to took the whole house, but she wouldn't come. They only got part of her. That's why she looks so funny on one end. They cut her in two an' drug her over with twelve head of horses and two mules. They was goin' back for the other half an' stick her together again, but before they got there Wink Manley come with his boys and stole the other half. Pa an' Grampa was pretty sore, but a little later them an' Wink got drunk together an' laughed their heads off about it. Wink, he says his house is a stud, an' if we'll bring our'n over an' breed 'em we'll maybe get a litter of crap houses. Wink was a great ol' fella when he was drunk. After that him an' Pa an' Grampa was friends. Got drunk together ever' chance they got.
”
”
John Steinbeck (The Grapes of Wrath)
“
Time doesn’t exist. Pardon me? Time. It doesn’t exist. Did you know that? No. Sometimes it seems like it’s all that’s real. Like time is the only thing we have to keep things together. Well, it’s not. It’s not because it was a creation of our imagination when we believed we needed something to pin our lives on, some way to measure progress, some way to try to control change. Funny how we get so big in our britches sometimes, isn’t it? Yes. It is. But tell me more about this idea. Well, if time was real, it would leave some residue behind. Something tangible, some evidence of its passing. But it’s invisible, so there’s no residue. All there is, is now, this moment, this instance, this time. Then it’s gone. Like a firefly in the night. Winking out, becoming invisible again. I see that. But where does it go? Inside us. Time disappears inside us. It becomes real through memory, recollection, and feeling. Then, only then, can it last forever. When it becomes a part of us, a part of our spirit on its never-ending journey. Journey to where? To completion. You’re losing me. Don’t worry. You’ll come to understand it all too. When? In time.
”
”
Richard Wagamese (Ragged Company)
“
Well, now,” Mrs. Havisham said, all but purring as she leaned forward, ample cleavage on display. “You’ve grown up, haven’t you? Tell me, Gustavo. What are your thoughts on having an experienced lover?”
“Not many,” Gus said. “In fact, none at all. Also? I came out when I was thirteen. You were there. As was the whole town. Pastor Tommy announced it at the Fall Harvest Festival. On stage. Into a microphone. There was apple pie afterward.”
“Still?” she said with an exaggerated pout.
“Yes,” Gus said, deadpan as he could make it. “Still. Funny how that works.”
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me,” she said, dragging a pink fingernail down his arm. “My door is always open. Like my body.”
“That’s not even remotely healthy,” Gus said with a sniff.
“Maybe that’s why I need your protein,” she said with a wink.
“Nope,” Gus said. “Nope, nope, nope.”
“You sure about that?”
“Maybe you should close that door. And your legs.
”
”
T.J. Klune (How to Be a Normal Person (How to Be, #1))
“
Buster went bananas, running over to Paci and jumping up on his legs, begging for attention. Paci didn’t disappoint him, either. He bent down and baby-talked with Buster, like he was an old hand at it.
I smiled in amusement. Paci was no wimp. He was almost as big as Bodo and ripped to the max. He had zero body fat, so Peter and I were able to admire his every muscle, which I noticed Peter was doing with unabashed curiosity. I caught his attention and raised my eyebrows at him in a conspiratorial message of mutual admiration. He smiled in return, giving me a pitiful wink that made him look like he had something stuck in both eyes. It made me laugh.
Paci looked up at me. “Something strike you as funny?”
“Yeah. You baby-talking to a nude poodle.
”
”
Elle Casey (Warpaint (Apocalypsis, #2))
“
Just think of me as the shoe fairy.” Then he acted like he was bonking me on the head with an imaginary magic wand, “Make your own good memories in those shoes.” I gaped for a second, and then he winked at me. I couldn’t help it, so I smiled at him and then turned to Indy.
”
”
Kristen Ashley (Rock Chick Rescue (Rock Chick, #2))
“
You look exhausted. Will you sleep at all tonight?”
Jesper just winked. “Not while the cards are hot. Stay and play a bit. Kaz will stake you.”
“Really, Jesper?” she’d said, pulling up her hood. “If I want to watch men dig holes to fall into, I’ll find myself a cemetery.
”
”
Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1))
“
Rhys lifted one shoulder. "Funny thing is, if you'd made maybe a pre-step that involved, oh, I don't know, giving me any sort of bloody heads-up that you were coming to town, all of this could have been avoided. You could've come in completely unbothered and lit a candle to Da's picture or whatever it is you do when you arrive in a new place, and I would not have had my delightful wife woken up by a phone call that seemed to involved the words 'high-handed' and 'complete asshole.'"
He threw Wells a wink. "That's how I knew she was taking about you.
”
”
Erin Sterling (The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex, #2))
“
Jen felt a hand rest at the nape of her neck as a voice spoke softly next to her ear, "If you need a lap to sit on, ţinere de meu inimă (holder of my heart), mine will be the only available to you." She watched as Decebel sat in the chair next to her and felt her stomach drop as he winked at her.
”
”
Quinn Loftis (Just One Drop (The Grey Wolves, #3))
“
It’s… fine. There’s nothing you can do. But it’s nice to be around you. Like I haven’t lost a decade of my life.”
And despite being a wreck himself after tonight’s events, Ros still flashed Shane a little smile and winked. “If it helps, I was eleven ten years ago, so we wouldn’t have been a match.
”
”
K.A. Merikan (Scum (Wrong Side of the Tracks, #1))
“
Sadistic monsters,' Gwyn hissed as the three friends limped toward the water station, defeat heavy on their shoulders.
'We try again tomorrow,' Emerie swore, sporting a black eye thanks tot the swinging log that had knocked her on her ass before Nesta could grab her. 'We keep trying until we wipe that smug look off their stupid perfect faces.
Indeed, Azriel and Cassian had just leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and smiled at them the entire time.
Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. 'See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,' she tossed over a shoulder.
Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. 'You have no idea what you just started,' she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway.
'Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?' Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. 'You're the new ribbon, Az.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
And right now, some affiliates of the promiscuous persuasion were beckoning, urging the women to join their huge orgy.
‘Come have a go, ladyships!’ said one of the strumpets. Stella mustered a look so disapproving it made steel feel guilty for being hard. Unabated, the prostitute lit herself a cigarette and winked suggestively.
‘Will make it worth your while and no trouble.’
‘Er.’
The strumpet sucked on her cigarette with gusto and hastily turned to Aurora. Under the heavy theatrical greasepaint, she saw a hint of black stubble.
‘What about you, hon? Ever swallowed a sword with its sheath?’
‘Once,’ said Aurora through a wooden expression. ‘It didn’t end too well for the sword.’
‘Oh leave ‘em be, Kevin,’ another strumpet butted in, as she adjusted the apples in her corset. She had a tall voice, coarse, rugged and edged; the sort of edge you cut protons on. ‘Doncha see they ‘av a lil’un with ‘em?’
‘And I’ve a wife. What’s your point, Steve?’ the drag queen retorted.
‘Yer wife’s a corpse, mate.’
‘Guess that makes me a necromancer.
”
”
Louise Blackwick (5 Stars)
“
Who says you can’t be cute and kick ass at the same time” Kenji winks at me. “I do it every day
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Restore Me (Shatter Me, #4))
“
Gotta be more specific sunshine." He winked at me before starting another.
"You might want to get that eye problem checked out. One might mistaken it for flirting.
”
”
K.R. Grace (The Chief (Daughters of Destiny #3))
“
Funny how a wink from a city guy can come across as cheesy or condescending, but a wink from a southern boy will send shivers up a girl’s spine.
”
”
Jonna Ivin (Will Love For Crumbs)
“
Just when you see a kid selling a mascot,
If you don't buy it because he winks,
Not only that will be considered a "boycott",
Xenophobically, it will also be a jinx!
”
”
Ana Claudia Antunes (ACross Tic)
“
Everyone say wine,” the man says with a wink. Under her breath, Ashleigh mumbles, “I can look past that.
”
”
Emily Henry (Funny Story)
“
All right. Let Lady Death get some rest.'
'That's not funny,' Nesta hissed.
Cassian winked, even as the others tensed. 'I think it's catchy.
Nesta glowered.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
This is a bad idea.'
Cassian winked. 'That should be written on the Night Court crest.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
I thought you had to go to The Hall?" she said.
"To learn?" Dar looked genuinely surprised. "No, Kale, Wulder is everywhere, therefore His lessons are everywhere."
"I know Wulder made all things, and Pretender tried to copy His work. But I didn't know Wulder is everywhere. How could that be?"
"You're thinking of Wulder as having a body and moving from place to place." Dar stood and pivoted in a circle with his arms outstretched. "Wulder is everywhere. You can see His power by recognizing His work. When a flower opens, that's His work. When the stars twinkle at night, that's His work."
He paused, facing her. He let his arms fall to his sides. "Look at me, Kale. Right now, I am standing with Wulder all around me. I'm under His protection, within His will, standing on His pledge. And Wulder is, at the very same moment, in me."
"Me, too?" asked Kale.
"Yes." Dar knelt in front of her, his earnest face only inches away.
She looked into his dark brown eyes and saw strength and peace. She wondered at his patience with her. Often her marione masters gruffly explained things they thought she should already understand.
Dar winked before he continued, his funny face serious and yet cheerful at imparting what must be old knowledge to him. "So many people don't know who Wulder is or what He's capable of doing. Their ignorance doesn't make Wulder less of a being; it makes them less. Until they know, they can't be whole."
He leaned back and sighed, spread his arms out in a gesture of explanation, and continued, "It's so simple, Kale. Everything hinges on His willingness to be involved with our world. When a mountain stands instead of tumbling down. He's holding it there. If He were to leave..." Dar shook his head. "If He were to leave, all that He holds in order would spin out of control. But He will never leave.
”
”
Donita K. Paul (DragonSpell (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #1))
“
Maybe not the puking,” he affirms with a wink. “But everything right up until that moment and beyond…” He shrugs. “I feel privileged just to be around you, Brooke. No one makes me smile like you do.
”
”
Max Monroe (Accidental Attachment (It's A Funny Story #1))
“
The man by the fireplace, the former mayor, clicked his tongue. “Funny how it can be so obvious to everyone else, innit?” He glanced up from his pint and sent a mischievous wink at Leyna, who laughed.
”
”
Marissa Meyer (Gilded (Gilded, #1))
“
Seduction,” I growled, shooting a nearby goddess with my Finger Arrow of Seduction.
She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, having to lean against the woman next to her for support. I thought that was hilarious, so I took aim and shot my Finger Arrow of Seduction again, at the next woman, adding a wink for good measure. She giggled, swaying on her feet.
“Quit that,” Siret complained, reaching over me to slap down my weapon.
”
”
Jane Washington
“
I plucked one plump black olive from the plate and put it in my mouth immediately before saying, “Well, I feel bad for you, then.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I love antipasto.”
“I guess I don’t understand why that’s a problem.”
“Because,” I emphasized, cutting into a piece of salmon. “I don’t like to share.” I quickly slipped the smoked meat in my mouth before winking at him.
His smile finally met his eyes again. “Good to know, because I’m not the sharing kind of guy either.” He winked back at me, but it was so blatantly comical that I couldn’t help the laugh that flew out of my mouth.
“Something tells me you’re not talking about cured meats,” I said before slapping his hand away from my olives.
“I knew you were smart.”
I swallowed the olive I’d snatched from his hand and glared at him, while mouthing, “Mine.”
“Funny, that’s what I was thinking, too,” he said, looking directly at me.
”
”
Whitney Barbetti (He Found Me (He Found Me, #1))
“
If you're signing up all the pretty girls in Alden, I want to join too," Max told Christy.
"We aren't taking men," she explained.
He cocked his eyebrow. "What? We aren't sensitive enough for your kind of literature?"
Christy turned to Annie and both broke into laughter. Annie leaned closer to Max and whispered, "We are talking cliterature here."
His roguish smile was breathtaking. "Oh clits and chicks, I can handle that," he answered with a wink, his eyes glittering with laughter.
”
”
Elle Aycart (Inked Ever After (Bowen Boys, #2.5))
“
He’d almost redoubled his efforts to charm her. Prepared a wink and a smile and a glib response but stopped. Every time he tried to charm her, she stiffened, so he’d given her the truth instead. 'I’ve nowhere else to be.' Surprisingly, it had worked.
”
”
K. Lyn Smith (The Artist’s Redemption (Something Wonderful, #2))
“
It’s funny, but when I talk about this business of my father and Valentina with my women friends, they’re absolutely appalled. They see a vulnerable old man who’s being exploited. Yet all the men I talk to—without any exception, Mike” (I wag my finger) “they respond with these wry knowing smiles, these little admiring chuckles. Oh, what a lad he is. What an achievement, pulling this much younger bird. Best of luck to him. Let him have his bit of fun.”
“You must admit, it’s done him good.”
“I don’t admit anything.”
(It’s much less satisfying arguing with Mike than with Vera or Pappa. He’s always so irritatingly reasonable.)
“Are you sure you’re not just being a bit puritanical?”
“Of course I’m not!” (So what if I am?) “It’s because he’s my father—I just want him to be grown up.”
“He is being grown up, in his way.”
“No he’s not, he’s being a lad. An eighty-four-year-old lad. You’re all being lads together. Wink wink. Nudge nudge. What a great pair of knockers. For goodness’ sake!” My voice has risen to a shriek.
“But you can see it’s doing him good, this new relationship. It’s breathed new life into him. Just goes to show that you’re never too old for love.”
“You mean for sex.”
“Well, maybe that as well. Your Dad is just hoping to fulfil every man’s dream—to lie in the arms of a beautiful younger woman.”
“Every man’s dream?”
That night Mike and I sleep in separate beds.
”
”
Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian)
“
What are you thinking about?' Helion drawled as they approached a shut wooden door.
Cassian straightened. He hadn't realised his thoughts had dragged such a scent from him. He grinned. 'Your mother.'
Helion chuckled. 'I always forget how much I like you.'
'Happy to remind you.' Cassian winked.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
Kenji goes suddenly still.
At the creak of the door Kenji’s eyebrows shoot up; a soft click and his eyes widen; a muted rustle of movement and suddenly the barrel of a gun is pressed against the back of his head. Kenji stares at me, his lips making no sound as he mouths the word psychopath over and over again.
The psychopath in question winks at me from where he’s standing, smiling like he couldn’t possibly be holding a gun to the head of our mutual friend. I manage to suppress a laugh.
“Go on,” Warner says, still smiling. “Please tell me exactly how she’s failed you as a leader.”
“Hey—“ Kenji’s arms fly up in mock surrender. “I never said she failed at anything, okay? And you are clearly over-react—“
Warner knocks Kenji on the side of the head with the weapon. “Idiot.”
Kenji spins around. Yanks the gun out of Warner’s hand. “What the hell is wrong with you, man? I thought we were cool.”
“We were,” Warner says icily. “Until you touched my hair.”
“You asked me to give you a haircut—“
“I said nothing of the sort! I asked you to trim the edges!”
“And that’s what I did.”
“This,” Warner says, spinning around so I might inspect the damage, “is not trimming the edges, you incompetent moron—“
I gasp. The back of Warner’s head is a jagged mess of uneven hair; entire chunks have been buzzed off.
Kenji cringes as he looks over his handiwork. Clears his throat. “Well,” he says, shoving his hand in his pockets. “I mean—whatever, man, beauty is subjective—“
Warner aims another gun at him.
“Hey!” Kenji shouts. “I am not here for this abusive relationship, okay?” He points to Warner. “I did not sign up for this shit!”
Warner glares at him and Kenji retreats, backing out of the room before Warner has another chance to react; and then, just as I let out a sign of relief, Kenji pops his head back into the doorway and says
“I think the cut looks cute, actually”
and Warner slams the door in his face.
”
”
Tahereh Mafi (Restore Me (Shatter Me, #4))
“
And eventually I realized that the reason I felt so peaceful was because Wink wasn’t taking stock. She wasn’t trying to figure out if I was sexy, or cool, or funny, or popular. She just stood in front of me and let me keep on being whoever I really was. And no one had ever done that for me before, except maybe my parents,
”
”
April Genevieve Tucholke (Wink Poppy Midnight)
“
For my friend Fong,” he says, and begins singing John Denver. If you didn’t know it already, now you do: old dudes from rural Taiwan are comfortable with their karaoke and when they do karaoke for some reason they love no one like they love John Denver. Maybe it’s the dream of the open highway. The romantic myth of the West. A reminder that these funny little Orientals have actually been Americans longer than you have. Know something about this country that you haven’t yet figured out. If you don’t believe it, go down to your local karaoke bar on a busy night. Wait until the third hour, when the drunk frat boys and gastropub waitresses with headshots are all done with Backstreet Boys and Alicia Keys and locate the slightly older Asian businessman standing patiently in line for his turn, his face warmly rouged on Crown or Japanese lager, and when he steps up and starts slaying “Country Roads,” try not to laugh, or wink knowingly or clap a little too hard, because by the time he gets to “West Virginia, mountain mama,” you’re going to be singing along, and by the time he’s done, you might understand why a seventy-seven-year-old guy from a tiny island in the Taiwan Strait who’s been in a foreign country for two-thirds of his life can nail a song, note perfect, about wanting to go home.
”
”
Charles Yu (Interior Chinatown)
“
These waters are sacred to us and for you to be allowed to swim in these waters is a rare honour. What are you waiting for?"
Vartan turned to look at Trisa.
She winked at him and whispered, "Don't worry young man, I've seen it all before. You have nothing to be shy around me for."
"I wasn't..." began Vartan, his cheeks reddening, "Never mind.
”
”
Peter Koevari
“
When she walked by the two officers, they didn't recognize her.
"Have you seen the luscious bonbon with the golden braids?"
She grinned up at them with such impish mischief that they almost forgot their quest for the singer. "She is with her lover," Hannah said. "But she can always handle one or two more." She winked at them. "Go there, through that door."
She made her escape while the uniformed hobbledehoys gawked and gaped and finally burst into the dressing room where Franz, the three-hundred-pound juggling strongman, was adjusting his loincloth.
"I ought not do it," Hannah said aloud to herself as chaos erupted behind her. "I just can't seem to help myself. it is a shame, really.
”
”
Laura L. Sullivan (Love by the Morning Star)
“
Jared was completely gone now, holding his stomach and laughing so hard that tears were running down his face. Matt turned on him and snapped, "It's not funny," which only made Jared laugh harder.
"Any of you guys strict about top or bottom?" Angelo asked, "'Cause if so, you'll screw it all up-"
"Literally," Cole said.
"And we'll have to start all over." Angelo turned to Matt. "If you got a strong preference you better say so now."
"Lay it all out, so to speak," Cole said.
"On the table." Angelo said.
"For all to see."
"Zach does like to watch," Angelo said, winking at me, and I was relieved that with the direction the conversation was going, nobody took him seriously.
"Then it's settled!" Cole said. "Who's going where with whom first? Zach, I think you're up." He winked at me. "Or you soon will be."
"Oh dear God," Mat moaned, hanging his head. "I knew I shouldn't have come."
"Don't worry about it a bit," Cole said. "I'm sure Zach can coax at least one more out of you."
Jared laughed so hard, I was amazed he managed to stay in his chair.
”
”
Marie Sexton (Paris A to Z (Coda, #5))
“
-"You are unbelievable."
-"I hear that a lot from my lady friends," he agreed with a wink.
-"And I'll bet you have plenty as a pole dancer. Like I said before, I need a tracker, not a Chippendale demon. So why don't you run off and hand-wash your gold lame G-string while I get on with the job. Don't worry. I won't tell Lucifer on you. He might try to stick me with someone worse, like your even more annoying twin brother."
-"No need to wash anything, little witch, I prefer to go commando.
”
”
Eve Langlais (A Demon and His Witch (Welcome to Hell, #1))
“
The reallly funny thing is that Steve made that little clicking noise with his tongue, and winked at me, as if to show that he was on my side of something. Except you're not on my side, are you Steve? Because if you were on my side you just would have handed me the dictionary like a grown-up. Because if you make a big fucking gesture of it Steve, then it becomes a big fucking deal. But that is what these people do - the Steves of this world - they all try and make something out of nothing. And they all do it for themselves.
”
”
Nathan Filer (The Shock of the Fall)
“
She followed Chase up the front steps onto a wide porch that seemed to wrap around the whole house. While the teenager had a long way to go before he was as hunky as his older brother, he was still pretty impressive. Good-looking, funny, easy to talk to.
“I’ve been had,” she muttered more to herself than to him.
“What do you mean?”
“Maya got me out here early by implying you were neglected and pitiful all on your own. I thought I was going to be rescuing a lost waif.”
Chase winked. “I am. Can’t you tell? Zane practically keeps me chained up in my room.”
“Uh-huh. I’m all in tears over your broken spirit.
”
”
Susan Mallery (Kiss Me (Fool's Gold, #17))
“
We’re not really going to have a serious conversation, are we?”
I grinned maniacally.
“Okay, you know what, we’re going to play Truth or Dare. If you don’t want to do a dare or answer a question, that’s fine, but you have to take a shot to make up for it. Got it?”
I was relieved. I couldn’t talk about Adam anymore, and I sure as hell didn’t want to dwell on the confusing morass of emotions swirling inside of me, further complicated by the fact that Seth would be in Southern California for at least one more year. “Got it,” I said.
“I’ll go first. I pick dare.”
“I dare you to do a striptease on top of this bar,” I said, waggling my eyebrows. He reached for the bottle of tequila, poured, and tossed it back.
“Your turn.” He smiled, pleased with himself.
“You’re no fun. Truth.”
“Do you want me to kiss you?” he asked, staring at my lips.
“Yes,” I said.
He leaned in and then, suddenly, we were kissing. I pulled away first.
“Okay, now me. Truth. Fire away.”
“Why do you still like me?”
“That’s an easy one, Char. Because you’re compassionate, intelligent, funny; you have insane sex appeal; and you’re beautiful. Your turn.”
“Truth,” I slurred.
“Do you want me to kiss you?”
“Yes,” I whispered, growing increasingly bold from the alcohol. And then we were kissing again.
I pulled away and touched my fingers to his lips. “Your turn.”
“Dare.” He winked.
“I dare you to kiss me,” I said.
He took a shot. I gasped. He was such a tease.
”
”
Renee Carlino (Wish You Were Here)
“
What does a freelance researcher do?”
“Researches things.” He winks at me and helps lift my bike onto a cobblestone walkway. “It’s not an interesting or particularly sexy job. Nobody wants to date a perpetual studier, but I bet there’s an army of guys crawling over each other to get to you.”
More like crawling away. “You’re ridiculous. Who’d ever want to date me?”
“Someone like you? There’d be a line at your door as soon as work got out.”
“Oh, would you be in the line?” Sarcasm. Not a real question. I don’t care if he responds—heat burns my toes, ears, and everything in-between—well, maybe I care a little.
Jack pauses and gazes into me. “Yeah … I’m in the line … and I’m better than all the other guys so you should really pick me. I’m funny. I’m strong, like, I could sweep you off your feet and run without breaking a sweat. I can also blow milk through my nose, but only if I’m drunk and the milk is warm.
”
”
Caroline George (The Vestige)
“
Whatcha got there?” Drake asked, nodding to the floor. “Snacks for me.” I winked. “Well, now I’m offended.” He fake pouted, scooting away from me in his seat, which made it even more funny because there was nowhere for him to go in the tiny car. “Why is that?” Nothing wrong with playing along, besides, he was cute when he was fake-mad. What was I saying? He was cute ALL the time. He turned to me and slid his arms around my waist, pulling me close. Far off, I caught a whiff of his scent. Mmm. Delicious. “It’s just that I thought I was your snack on the go.” His breath danced on my cheek, dangerously close to my lips. I giggled before I could stop myself. “Do you really want me to suck you dry?” “Mmm, that sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.” He raised his eyebrows and flashed a naughty grin. “Don’t be dirty, I didn’t mean that.” I slapped his arm for good measure. “Is that all you think of me as—some kind of slutty vampire?
”
”
Karly Kirkpatrick (Bloody Little Secrets (Bloody Little Secrets, #1))
“
What the hell is that?'
Cassian was grinning that next evening as he waved a hand toward the pile of pine boughs dumped on the ornate red rug in the centre of the foyer. 'Solstice decorations. Straight from the market.'
Snow clung to his broad shoulders and dark hair, and his tan cheeks were flushed with cold. 'You call that a decoration?
He smirked. 'A heap of pine in the middle of the floor is Night Court tradition.'
I crossed my arms. 'Funny.'
'I'm serious.' I glared, and he laughed. 'It's for the mantels, the banister, and whatever else, smartass. Want to help?' He shrugged off his heavy coat, revealing a black jacket and shirt beneath, and hung it in the hall closet. I remained where I was and tapped my foot.
'What?' he said, brows rising. It was rare to see Cassian in anything but his Illyrian leathers, but the clothes, while not as fine as anything Rhys or Mor usually favoured, suited him.
'Dumping a bunch of trees at my feet is really how you say hello these days? A little time in that Illyrian camp and you forget all your manners.'
Cassian was on me in a second, hoisting me off the ground to twirl me until I was going to be sick. I beat at his chest, cursing at him.
Cassian set me down at last. 'What did you get me for Solstice?'
I smacked his arm. 'A heaping pile of shut the hell up.' He laughed again, and I winked at him. 'Hot cocoa or wine?'
Cassian curved a wing around me, turning us toward the cellar door. 'How many good bottles does little Rhysie have left?
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3))
“
We paused to breathe and I slid my arms around his neck and held his face the way I'd wanted to for so long. My fingers weaved into his wind-blown hair and tugged the back of his head, pulling his lips toward mine once more. There would be time for breathing later.
"I love you," I whispered when our lips finally parted. "The biggest lie I ever told was telling you I didn't. And if I ever claim you're not romantic, please remind me of the time we were 1.200 feet in the air in December and I needed to fan myself." I saw a smile overtake his eyes and felt it overtake his mouth. "I mean, seriously, Will," I said, my breath still coming back to me.
He pulled away, which was the last thing I wanted, and laughed. "But I'm also just a boy, standing in front of a girl..."
I threw my head back in joyous laughter. "You don't have to ask me to love you, Whitaker. It's done."
"Actually..." He kissed my hand and lowered onto one knee. "I was going to say "asking her to marry him." The hand that wasn't linked with mine was holding a beautiful emerald cut diamond ring. "Sorry there's not a box," he said with a wink.
My breath caught in my throat. "But, how did you...why do you..."
"Sorry, but Kevin's on my team. I claimed him pretty early. And he understands, in a way you still don't seem to, that not even Willie Mays and Hank Aaron could provide me with the motivation that you could. Besides, McCaffrey, even I'm not stupid enough to fall for that ridiculous plan you hatched." His smile grew wider and he kissed my hand once more. "But I just like that you try."
I Ieaned down to kiss him. Tears flooded my cheeks, but still I said nothing.
"You're killing me here. And frankly, I'm not sure how long my knee can stay on this cold concrete." He smiled and asked, "Will you marry me or not?"
I sniffed. "Have you asked my father's permission?"
I began laughing as he jumped up to face me. "Oh, you think that's funny, do you?"
"Too soon?"
He captured my mouth once again, and I threw my arms around his neck before pulling away from his kiss, just long enough to whisper, "My answer is yes." I smiled against his lips and added, "I really thought you'd never ask.
”
”
Bethany Turner (Wooing Cadie McCaffrey)
“
Then came Dani’s turn to read a question. “‘Who’s in charge in the bedroom?’”
Much to the group’s amusement, none of them got a match, and Sean didn’t think they would either as he held up his notepad. “‘I am, since I carry the big stick.’”
Emma read hers with a remarkably straight face. “‘Sean, because he has a magic penis.’”
“Wow. Um…so Sean and Emma have a point,” Dani said as the men nearly pissed themselves laughing.
No way in hell was he leaving that unpunished, and he winked at Emma when Kevin read the next question. “‘Where’s the kinkiest place you’ve had sex?’”
The fact that Joe and Keri had done the dirty deed on the back of his ATV led to a few questions about the logistics of that, but then it was Emma’s turn. “‘In bed, because Sean has no imagination.’”
Roger threw an embarrassed wince his way, but his cousins weren’t shy about laughing their asses off.
Sean just shrugged and held up his notepad. “In the car in the mall parking lot. Emma’s lying because she doesn’t want anybody to know being watched turns her on.”
Her jaw dropped, but she recovered quickly and gave him a sweet smile that didn’t jibe with the “you are so going to get it” look in her eyes.
Beth asked the next question. “‘Women, where does your man secretly dream of having sex?’”
Keri knew Joe wanted to have sex in the reportedly very haunted Stanley Hotel, from King’s The Shining. Dani claimed Roger wanted to do the deed on a Caribbean beach, but he said that was her fantasy and that his was to have sex in an igloo. No amount of heckling would get him to say why. And when it came to Kevin, even Sean knew he dreamed of getting laid on the pitcher’s mound at Fenway Park.
Then, God help him, it was Emma’s turn to show her answer. “‘In a Burger King bathroom.’”
The room felt silent until Dani said, “Ew. Really?”
“No, not really,” Sean growled.
“Really,” Emma said over him. “He knows that’s the only way he can slip me a whopper.”
As the room erupted in laughter, Sean knew humor was the only way they’d get through the evening with their secret intact, but he didn’t find that one very funny, himself.
It was the final answer that really did him in, though. The question: “If your sex had a motto, what would it be?”
Joe and Keri’s was, not surprisingly, Don’t wake the baby Kevin and Beth wrote, Better than chocolate cake, whatever that was supposed to mean. Dani wrote, Gets better with time, like fine wine, and Roger wrote, Like cheese, the older you get, the better it is, which led to a powwow about whether or not to give them a point. They probably would have gotten it if they weren’t tied with Keri and Joe, who took competitive to a cutthroat level.
When they all looked at Sean, he groaned and turned his paper around. They’d lost any chance of winning way back, but he was already dreading what the smart-ass he wasn’t really engaged to had written down. “‘She’s the boss.’”
The look Emma gave him as she slowly turned the notepad around gave him advance warning she was about to lay down the royal flush in this little game they’d been playing.
“Size really doesn’t matter,” she said in what sounded to him like a really loud voice.
Before he could say anything—and he had no idea what was going to come out of his mouth, but he had to say something--Cat appeared at the top of the stairs.
“I hate to break up the party,” she said, “but it’s getting late, so we’re calling it a night.”
Maybe Cat was, but Sean was just getting started.
”
”
Shannon Stacey (Yours to Keep (Kowalski Family, #3))
“
Are we almost there?” I asked.
“You won’t be sleeping on the beach tonight,” he replied. “Not unless you’re fool enough to insist on it.”
“I don’t mind sleeping under the stars.”
“Well, isn’t that what a legendary huntress always does?” He winked at me. “Or have you become someone else already?” He kept his teasing to a whisper.
“Very funny.”
“Put your quills down, little hedgehog, I’m not your enemy,” Argus replied. “I owe you plenty for what you’ve brought to this voyage. Thanks to you, I only felt like throttling Jason every second day. I wish I knew your true name so when I die, I can tell Hades, ‘See that girl? She’s sharp as a shark’s tooth, brave enough to battle the worst storm Poseidon could throw at her, and one of these days she’ll be as beautiful as a sunrise on a summer sea. So you tell the Fates to spin the thread of her life good and long, or you’ll have Argus to answer to!’” He chuckled.
I placed my hand over his on the prow. “I hope the Pythia was wrong,” I told him. “Not because I like you, but so Hades doesn’t have to put up with you too soon.
”
”
Esther M. Friesner (Nobody's Prize (Nobody's Princess, #2))
“
Eliza woke with a start at an unusual noise. Her eyes widened, her heart refused to beat, and she tried to muffle a scream. She stayed motionless, too afraid to move, to breathe. Eliza’s blood drained from her face and she tried to rouse her companions without frightening the horrid creature, afraid at any moment it would attack. “Kitty! Thomas!” she squeaked, staying still. Neither of them moved. She called for them again, louder this time. Thomas jerked and grabbed at the pistol underneath his side. He stalled for a moment, looking back and forth before his body shook with a bellowing laugh. Awake and giggling, Kitty rested on her elbow next to Eliza. “Liza, how do you always attract those creatures?” “This isn’t funny! Why isn’t it moving? Get it off of me!” Eliza squealed. Her plea only made Thomas laugh harder. How could they possibly find humor in this? “Please! Get it off of me, one of you. Why doesn’t it just leave?” Eliza covered her mouth and breathed through her fingers while the large gray squirrel stared at her from tiny black eyes. “Allow me to rescue you from this dangerous attacker, fair maiden.” Thomas reached over and shooed the animal from its perch on Eliza’s lower leg. It scampered away as Thomas continued chuckling and wiping tears from his eyes. He winked and his smile softened, but not enough to soothe the waves of Eliza’s embarrassment that crashed against her. She sat up straight and pressed her hand to her chest as she tried to calm the rapid thumping of her heart. Thomas pointed out the cave with a tilt to his voice that announced his teasing. “You could have been killed.” His winsome smile almost took away the shame. Almost. “I’m glad you were both so entertained.
”
”
Amber Lynn Perry (So Fair a Lady (Daughters of His Kingdom, #1))
“
Come on, you guys. I know you want to line up to hug this motherfucker here. Don’t be shy. My awesomeness is contagious.” He winked.
Mason got up, shaking his head. “You were just on the phone with Logan, weren’t you?”
“Hell yeah, my Mason motherfucker. Come here, you gorgeous son of a bitch.
”
”
Tijan
“
Now I'm really mad at the Yeerks," Marco said. "They're getting in the way of my showbiz career. I could be a millionaire. I could be trading funny lines with Dave. I could have beautiful Hollywood supermodels all over me."
"Uh-huh," I said, with a wink at Cassie. "Lots of women love animals. But sooner or later you'd have to change back into your actual self, Marco. An then, boom, they'd be outta there."
-Animorphs #2, The Visitor, page 13
”
”
K.A. Applegate
“
Blake jumped down and swept me into his arms. “Damsel rescued,” he winked.
“I needed the rescue!” Tristan limped past rubble, an arm around Heather who was gagging over the twitching demon carcasses.
“Another damsel!” Blake cradled me in one arm and opened the other to Heather. “There’s room for you too, gorgeous.”
“What about me?!” Tristan snapped.
“Dude, you’re cute, but not my type.
”
”
A. Kirk (Demons in Disguise (Divinicus Nex Chronicles, #3))
“
Almost” Eleu said, his fingers moving incredibly fast and pieces of chicken flying everywhere. “Aaaaaand, aaaaand, aaaaand…
Pau!” He proudly held up a perfectly carved plate full of raw chicken. “Eh, Molawa, how do you like your chicken?” he asked, winking at Kaimana and Kilikina.
“Wit’ no feathers, bruh!” Molawa said loudly. The two of them burst into infectious laughter that Kaimana and Kilikina couldn’t help but join them in.
”
”
James Eldridge (Islanders: The Pacific Chronicles (Book #1))
“
Funny how I ended up here at her house.” He winked at me just as Greg appeared in the living room doorway.
”
”
Angelina J. Steffort (White (The Wings Trilogy, #1))
“
Sadistic monsters,' Gwyn hissed as the three friends limped toward the water station, defeat heavy on their shoulders.
'We try again tomorrow,' Emerie swore, sporting a black eye thanks to the swinging log that had knocked her on her ass before Nesta could grab her. 'We keep trying until we wipe that smug look off their stupid perfect faces.
Indeed, Azriel and Cassian had just leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and smiled at them the entire time.
Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. 'See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,' she tossed over a shoulder.
Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. 'You have no idea what you just started,' she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway.
'Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?' Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. 'You're the new ribbon, Az.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
Baby Cooper and Aaron running around causing trouble,” Dad said, setting an album on Lark’s lap. “Aaron was a very good baby. Didn’t cry at all. Not once.”
When I laughed, Dad gave me a wink. “Here was our boy at three months.”
Lark looked at the picture and laughed. Knowing exactly what she thought was so funny, I explained, “They thought they were adopting a girl, so I wore pink those first few months.”
“Babies grow so fast at that age,” Mom said. “No reason to waste money on new clothes when he wouldn’t know the difference.”
Lark laughed at this comment and kept laughing until the pictures reached when I was three.
Her eyes moistened and again I was the one to explain. “Lark’s little brother died around that age.”
As Mom and Dad descended on her with hugs, I never saw my girl look so startled. Life was different for her now. No longer was she struggling to survive in a dysfunctional family of revolving fathers and a cold mother. Now, she was a Barnes and we were fully functional and only slightly on the weird side.
“You have curls,” she cooed, running her finger over a picture of me at five.
“I loved those curls,” Mom said.
“She put barrettes in those curls,” I muttered, standing behind the three of them as they looked through the album. Ignoring my parents’ laughter, I continued, “I begged to have my hair shaved short. Once it was, I never looked back.
”
”
Bijou Hunter (Damaged and the Cobra (Damaged, #3))
“
In the old days, when people wrote letters to each other on paper, they would occasionally write “ha ha” after a joke, to make sure the recipient knew the writer was being funny. When email took over the world in the 1980s, there were millions of instances of people writing jokes in their mail and the recipient being hurt or offended, not realizing that a joke had been made. Without standard verbal and visual cues, people had trouble consistently recognizing comedy as comedy. Thus the smiley face started appearing after any line that was meant to be a joke. This was joined by the winking face and a host of other expressions designed to give the reader a sense of the attitude beneath the words.
”
”
Dan O'Shannon (What Are You Laughing At?: A Comprehensive Guide to the Comedic Event)
“
She shoved me out of the bed! The realization hit him as hard as the floor. His feline grace failed him. Far from hanging its head in shame, his inner lion rolled in mirth, tufted tail practically wagging. Not funny.
Except it was. He had a feeling this more assertive side of Arabella was his fault. Since the moment they’d met, he’d encouraged her to not take any shit, and apparently she’d decided to start with him. Dammit. When he’d told her to not let the world stomp all over her, he should have specified his exemption.
I’m her mate. Isn’t there a rule that says she can’t kick me out of bed?
Except she’d yet to realize what he had. Was it only a day ago since his life changed? Not even. At this rate, he’d be picking out fucking China patterns by noon.
Completely emasculated and by a woman who wanted nothing to do with him.
Flipping to his knees, he sat up and rested his chin on the mattress.
Arabella faced him, eyes wary, breathing shallow as she waited for his reaction. More like she waited to see if he’d explode.
She’d learn.
Hayder would never harm her, but he would use his infamous kitty-cat eyes against her.
He stared. You know you want me. You know you need me. Come on, baby. Melt. Melt for your lion.
She stared right back.
Hmm, this wasn’t working as planned.
He let the left side of his lip curl into a grin, tugging his cheek and popping his infamous dimple.
“I know what you’re doing.”
“What?”
“Trying to manipulate me into letting you back into bed.”
“Is it working?”
For a moment her expression shifted, a quick flip of emotions as she struggled to answer. “Yes it’s working. But I wish it wasn’t.”
“Why? Why fight it?”
“Because I think I need time.”
It turned out there was something more powerful than his dimple. Her honesty.
He groaned. “I think you were sent to kill me. Fine. If you insist, I’ll respect you even if I’d rather debauch you.”
Her eyes widened.
“Respect doesn’t mean I’m going to lie, baby. I want you. Bad. But I’ll listen to what you want. For now.”
And, yes, he said it ominously.
Let her think about it. Think about him. Soon even she wouldn’t be able to deny they were meant for each other.
He stood, all six foot plus naked feet of him.
And, yes, that did put a certain part of his anatomy in perfect view of a certain shocked gaze.
A sucked-in breath, cheeks that darkened, a certain awareness sizzling between them. She couldn’t hope to hide her pleasure or interest in what she saw.
“Sweet dreams, baby.” He winked and then turned, resisting an urge to catch her staring at his ass.
He knew she was. He could feel the crazy heat as she traced his path out of the room.
Go back. Want to snuggle. His lion couldn’t understand why they were back in the living room with its cramped couch that wouldn’t allow him to stretch out. Why couldn’t they snuggle in the nice warm bed and, even better, cuddle with a nice warm mate?
Respect, my furry friend. A lion had no use for respect though. His worldview was much simpler. Ours. Bed. Hungry. Not hungry for a steak but, rather, a sweet, creamy pie.
Hayder groaned. No need to keep reminding him of what he was missing. He knew. He hated it, but her wants had to take precedence over his.
Argh.
”
”
Eve Langlais (When a Beta Roars (A Lion's Pride, #2))
“
Morning, Vex. Forget something?”
She almost asked him what until she saw the way his gaze smoldered and caressed her almost naked body.
Oops. Had she jumped out of bed in only her panties?
Nudity wasn’t something that Meena usually noted or cared about.
Mother, on the other hand, was always yelling at her to put clothes on.
She and Leo had a lot in common.
“You should get dressed.”
“Why? I’m perfectly comfortable.” So comfortable she brought her shoulders back and made sure to give her boobs a little jiggle.
He noticed. He stared. Oh my.
Was it getting hot in here?
Funny how the heat in her body, though, didn’t stop her nipples from hardening as if struck by a cold breeze. Except, in this case, it was more of an ardent perusal.
Did Leo imagine his mouth latched onto a sensitive peak just like she was?
“While I am sure you are comfortable, if we’re to go out, then in order to avoid a possible arrest for indecent exposure, you might want to cover your assets.”
“We’re going out? Together?”
He nodded. “Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She clapped her hands and squealed, “Yay,” only to frown a second later.
Leo was acting awfully strange.
“Wait a second, this isn’t one of those things where you blindfold me and tell me you’ve got a great surprise, only to dump me on a twelve-hour train to Kansas, is it? Or a plane to Newfoundland, Canada?”
His lips twitched. “No. I promise we have a destination, and I am going with you.”
“And will I be back here tonight?”
“Perhaps. Unless you choose to sleep elsewhere.” Those enigmatic words weren’t his last. “Be downstairs and ready in twenty minutes, Vex. I really want you to come.”
Did he purr that last word? Was that even possible?
Could he tease her any harder? Please.
“How should I dress? Fancy, casual, slutty, or prim and proper?”
She eyed him in his khaki shorts and collared short-sleeved shirt. Casual with a hint of elegance. He looked ready for a day at a gentleman’s golf club. And she wanted to be his corrupting caddy, who ruined his shot and dragged him in the woods to show him her version of a tee off.
“Your clothes won’t matter. You won’t wear them for long.”
Good thing she was close to a wall. Her knees weakened to the point that she almost buckled to the floor.
Leaning against it, she wondered if he purposely teased her.
Did her serious Pookie even realize how his words could be taken?
He approached her until he stood right in front of her. Close enough she could have reached out and hugged him. She didn’t, but only because he drew her close.
His essence surrounded her. His hands splayed over the flesh of her lower back, branding her. She leaned into him, totally relying on him to hold her up on wobbly legs.
“What about breakfast?” she asked.
“I’ve got pastries and coffee in my truck. Lots of yummy treats with lickable icing.”
Staring at his mouth, she knew of only one treat she wanted to lick.
Alas, she didn’t get a chance.
With a slap on her ass, he walked off toward the condo door.
Leo. Slapped. My. Ass.
She gaped at his retreating broad back.
“Don’t make me wait. I’d hate to start without you.”
With a wink— yes, a real freaking wink— Leo shut the door behind him.
He was waiting for her.
Why the hell was she standing there?
She sprinted for the shower.
”
”
Eve Langlais (When an Omega Snaps (A Lion's Pride, #3))
“
That’s the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin,” he said with a wink. “Once you’re there, the only thing you can really do is leave again. Get
”
”
Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn Trilogy (Mistborn, #1-3))
“
Lass, I know that ye have been searching for the ring so that ye can go home. While, we were away, Arran found it.” “He did?” Shocked, I tried to normalize my expression as he continued. “Aye,” he paused to retrieve it and held it out to me, eventually setting it in between us when I didn’t reach out for it. “I almost threw it in the ocean.” “You what?” The pitch of my voice was oddly high and screechy, making me sound angry rather than shocked. “Aye, lass. I’m verra sorry, but I dinna want to give ye the ring. I know that I canna keep it from ye, but I’d like to ask ye something before I let ye have it.” “Of course.” My heart restarted as hope began to crawl through the fear rooted in my stomach. “Doona go, lass.” He squeezed my hands tightly in between his own, and I was sure my heart was going to burst with happiness. “I’ve fallen in love with ye, Bri, and I doona wish to be parted from ye. If ye doona love me, I shall give ye the ring, but I could no let ye leave without telling ye.” My voice cracked as I spoke to him, and a tear broke free from my left eye. “No.” He didn’t give me a chance to finish. “I’m so verra sorry for keeping the ring from ye, lass. I just wasna ready to let ye go.” I pried my hands loose and reached up to grab hold of his face. “No, listen. Let me finish.” He stopped talking, pursing his lips awkwardly like a fish, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Its no so funny, lass. Ye’re breaking my heart. I only ask that ye do it swiftly.” “Hush. It is funny. Your face looks ridiculous. I meant, ‘no,’ I’m not mad at you. I had something to tell you tonight as well.” “Aye?” “I was going to tell you that I wanted to stop looking for the ring. I can’t leave here. This is my home now and I’ve fallen in love with everyone. Mary, Kip, Arran, Griffin, even you.” I winked at him before continuing, “Before, I only thought I had to go back because of my mother and Blaire. She deserved the chance to return to her home, but she doesn’t want it. “How do ye know, lass?” “It’s the spell book. We can write messages to one another that cross over through time. My mother knows I’m safe here, and as long as she knows that, she’ll be okay with my decision. And Blaire, she said she wants to stay. That means I’m free, Eoin. I’m free to stay with you. If you’ll have me?” “Have ye, lass? Did ye no just hear what I said to ye? I’ll have ye and ye alone.
”
”
Bethany Claire (Love Beyond Time (Morna's Legacy, #1))
“
That's the funny thing about arriving somewhere, Vin" he said with a wink. "Once you're there, the only thing you can really do is leave again".
”
”
Brian Sanderson
“
She and Becky had been on their hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor when he'd come in with an ear-to-ear grin, his skin glowing and his hair damp, unruly, and deliciously tousled. With him around, getting any work done had been impossible. He'd been munching an apple, prowling the kitchen like a restless cat, and driving Juliet insane with his playful feints to her face, to the wall, to the leg of a chair. "Would you stop?" she'd finally cried, looking up at him and laughing as she'd swatted him away. "Can't," he'd said and, winking at Becky, leaned down and kissed Juliet fully on the lips. He'd tasted of sweet apples and sunshine, and she'd felt a rush of desire for him that had made her wish Becky was anywhere but in their kitchen. "What's got you in such a good mood?" she'd managed after he finally broke the kiss and straightened up, leaving her breathless and flushed, her hand to her suddenly pounding heart. "Oh, nothing." Another playful feint to her shoulder. "Nothing at all, dearest!" "The way you're acting, one might think you were going to the fight tonight." His eyebrows had risen, and then he'd laughed, loudly. "Well, maybe I am," he'd said, cheerfully; then, saluting her with his apple, he'd swung back out the door. Juliet had watched him as he crossed the lawn and headed toward the manor house, his stride cocky and giving him the appearance of owning the world. When she'd turned back to Becky, the other girl was simply sitting back on her heels and shaking her head in amusement. "Men! They just never grow up, do they?" "Do you know, Becky ... I hope that one never does. He can make me laugh when all I want to do is cry. He can make me see the good in a situation when all I see is the bad. He knows when life should be taken seriously — and when it shouldn't. He's delightful and funny and clever — and not afraid to make a total cake of himself." She had smiled and given a little sigh. "No, I never want him to grow up ... not if it means seeing him change into something other than what he currently is." Becky
”
”
Danelle Harmon (The Wild One (The de Montforte Brothers, #1))
“
Are you still running that bar?” Maureen’s voice dropped to a shocked whisper on the last word and Hope rolled her eyes, working the pick through Maureen’s thick hair.
“The Cue Club? Yes, ma’am, I am.” Angel leaned forward with her best devilish wink. “But I’m thinking of changing the name to the Den of Iniquity and getting some exotic dancers. You know, strippers.”
Miss Maureen’s eyes widened, pencil-thin brows nearly reaching the salt and pepper curls falling onto her forehead.
”
”
Linda Winfree
“
You’re right. You and Millie look more like your mom,” I said...
“That’s because we spent more time with her,” Henry said seriously, as if it were common knowledge, as if resemblances were based on nurture instead of nature. It was true, to a point. Mannerisms, quirks, style. All those things could be learned and copied.
“So if I spend a lot of time with Kathleen, do you think she’ll start to look like me?” I asked him, steering the focus away from his father.
Henry looked doubtfully from me to my grunting, banana-bearded child and back again.
“I hope so,” he said.
Georgia snickered, and I hooted and held my hand in the air so Henry could give me five.
“You hear that, Georgia? Henry hopes so,” I crowed. “I guess that means your baby daddy is a beautiful man.”
Henry obviously didn’t mean to be funny, and he totally left me hanging. Georgia reached up and slapped my hand and winked at me.
”
”
Amy Harmon (The Song of David (The Law of Moses, #2))
“
Syn stared into Furi’s sparkling eyes. He brought one hand up and tenderly brushed Furi’s cheek. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Furi kissed his lips gently. “I’ll be fine. I’m a big boy.”
“I know you are.” Syn winked.
Furi flushed with embarrassment. “Shut up. Don’t start something you can’t finish.”
“I’ll finish it later,” Syn promised. His look was pure lust as he pushed his rising cock against Furi’s jean-clad thigh.
“Fuckin’ right you will,” Furi moaned against Syn’s cheek, rocking back against him. “I’d fuckin’ take you right now if your bosses weren’t in the front room.”
Syn groaned.
Furi gripped Syn’s cock in a firm grip and stroked a couple times, wrapping his other arm around Syn’s back to hold him close. He nipped at Syn’s stubbled chin, peppering sweet kisses along his jaw to his ear. Furi flicked his tongue out and pulled the fleshy lobe between his soft lips. Furi’s lips were pressed against his ear as he spoke in a low, sexy drawl, “I’d bend you over this sink and fuck you until you yelled my name and begged me not to stop.”
“Fuck,” Syn moaned. Heat tore up through him at Furi’s nasty words.
“Fuck you hard, just how you like it, baby.” Furi increased the speed of his stroke.
“Oh fuck, fuck. No. Stop honey,” Syn protested weakly, his balls already throbbing with the need for release.
“Why?” Furi hissed.
“Because I fucking refuse to let Day hear me come.” Syn put some room between their bodies and kept backing up until he hit the wall. He tried to control his breathing, but staring at Furi’s gorgeous, flushed face didn’t help.
“You guys are crazy.” Furi shook his head.
“Day’s pranks have no boundaries. I wouldn’t be surprised if my moans are broadcasted over the loudspeaker in the office today.” Syn opened the bathroom door and gestured for Furi to look out into the hallway. “See.”
Furi busted out laughing at Day standing there in the hallway with his cell phone in his hand, studying the non-existent art on Syn’s bare wall. He whistled like he was just lounging around not looking for trouble. Syn just flipped him off and pulled Furi into his bedroom, slamming the door behind them.
“Oh my fucking god. That shit is too funny.” Furi laughed while he put a few things into his backpack.
“Yeah, because you don’t’ have to deal with his silliness.” Syn hurried to get dressed.
”
”
A.E. Via
“
I'm not sure why I'm still here talking to you.'
'Perhaps you feel indebted to me since I watched over you while you were unconscious.'
'I was unconscious for a few moments. It's not like you stood guard for endless hours.'
'I am quite important. Those moments felt like hours.'
'I do not like you,' I said.
He eyes shifted to mine, and that curve of his lips remained. 'But you see, you do. That's why you're still here and no longer threatening to claw my eyes out.'
I snapped my mouth shut.
Ash winked.
'The clawing of the eyes could still happen,' I warned him.
'I don't think so.' He bit down on that lower lip of his again, the act snagging my gaze once more. 'Besides the fact that you know you won't succeed, you said I was beautiful, and clawing my eyes out would ruin that, wouldn't it?
”
”
Jennifer L. Armentrout (A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1))
“
You will not die by my hands, but I will have you soul for an eternity to do with as I see fit. And I have a lot of ideas.' He winked as he patted the mortal's cheek. 'Something to look forward to. For both of us.'
Saion laughed under his breath. 'He's giving like that.
”
”
Jennifer L. Armentrout (A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1))
“
Who knew that it felt so good to touch yourself?" she asks no one in particular.
"Just wait until you're alone," Ale says and winks.
”
”
Avalie Grace (Cancer Perks)
“
Father Wanderly said, “Are we speaking with a demon right now?”
“Yeah, sure. Why not?” Marjorie smiled and winked at me, which seemed like proof that she was faking, or proof that she really did have a demon inside her.
”
”
Paul Tremblay (A Head Full of Ghosts)
“
We take the original plays of William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and Markus gives them . . . well, the necessary polish.” “Aren’t the plays good enough by themselves?” Barbara asked. “Well, for the general public they’re sometimes just too difficult and dry, so we cut out the long monologues and concentrate on the funny parts and, above all, the bloody passages. Many of the pieces have not yet been translated into German, and Markus takes care of that, as well.” “I butcher Shakespeare’s plays by turning them into bloody spectacles for the masses,” Markus sighed in despair. “Carefully constructed pentameter, beautiful images—for that the world clearly has no taste nowadays. The more blood, the better. But I myself have written original pieces that—” “Yes, yes,” Malcolm interrupted, “that would be enough to make Shakespeare cry, I know—or simply put him to sleep. I’m afraid you’re boring the ladies, Markus. Just like your plays. We can’t afford experiments. After all, I have a whole troupe to feed,” he said, clapping his hands. “But now it’s time to get back to building the stage. Will you excuse us?” He bowed to Magdalena and Barbara and stomped off toward the stage, but not without first casting a final, reproachful look at his two actors. “Old slave driver,” Markus mumbled and followed him, while Matheo paused a moment and winked at Barbara. “Then can we look forward to seeing you again at tomorrow’s performance? We’ll save a few seats for you up in the gallery. Ciao, signorine.” “Ciao,” Barbara said, batting her eyelashes as Matheo, in one single, flowing movement, jumped back onto the stage. Magdalena grinned at her sister. “Ciao?” she asked. “Is that the way a Schongau hangman’s daughter says good-bye, or are you an Italian contessa addressing her prince just before their wedding?
”
”
Oliver Pötzsch (The Werewolf of Bamberg (The Hangman's Daughter, #5))
“
I like this one." Hermes walks slowly around me. He winks at Apollo. "She's definitely your type."
"Apollo is Apollo's type," I mutter.
"And I'm sure he's even tried to seduce his own reflection." Hermes leans forward conspiratorially. "Between you and me, he'd have more luck with his reflection than even a fish.
”
”
Claire M. Andrews
“
People used to sacrifice to kelpies?” Feyre asked, nose crinkling with disgust and dread. “Yes,” Amren said, scowling. “The most ancient Fae and humans believed kelpies to be river and lake gods, though I always wondered if the sacrifices started as a way to prevent the kelpies from hunting them. Keep them fed and happy, control the deaths, and they wouldn’t crawl out of the water to snatch the children.” Her teeth flashed. “For this one to still be speaking that ancient dialect … He must have retreated to Oorid a long time ago.” “Or been raised by parents who spoke that dialect,” Azriel countered. “No,” Amren said. “The kelpies do not breed. They rape and torment, but they do not reproduce. They were made, legend says, by the hand of a cruel god—and deposited throughout the waters of this land. The kelpie you slew, girl, was perhaps one of the last.” Nesta gazed at the Mask again. Rhys said, “It flew to you. The Mask.” He must have seen it in her head. “I was trying to reach for my power,” Nesta murmured, and they all stilled—she’d never spoken of her power so explicitly. “This answered instead.” “Like calls to like,” Feyre repeated. “Your power and the Mask’s are similar enough that to reach for one was to reach for the other.” “So you admit your powers remain, then,” Amren said drily. Nesta met her stare. “You already knew that.” Cassian stepped in before things went south. “All right. Let Lady Death get some rest.” “That’s not funny,” Nesta hissed. Cassian winked, even as the others tensed. “I think it’s catchy.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
You're going to make me look like that?'
His low laugh rippled over her body. 'No one can look like this but me, Nes.'
Arrogant ass.
'Rhysand and Azriel do,' she said sweetly.
'I've got one or two muscles on them.'
'I don't see it.'
He winked. 'Maybe they're in other places.'
She couldn't help it. Couldn't stop it. Not the flash of desire, but the smile that overtook her face. She huffed a laugh.
Cassian stared like he hadn't seen her before.
His shock was enough that Nesta dropped her smile.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
Do I even want to know why you just hit Kieran?' Casteel asked as he rejoined us.
Kieran's eyes lit as he opened his mouth-
'No,' I jumped in, shooting Kieran a look that promised death if he spoke as Casteel came to stand beside me. 'You do not.'
Grinning, Kieran backed up. 'When has she ever needed a reason to be violent.'
'Good point.' Casteel glanced down at me, one side of his lips quirking. The damn dimple winked into existence. 'I guess I should be grateful that she didn't stab you.'
'There's always later,' I muttered.
A throaty, feminine laugh snapped my head around. 'You're right, Kieran. I like her.
”
”
Jennifer L. Armentrout (A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, #2))
“
You have five minutes until we leave.'
Nesta managed to step away. 'You're a brute.'
He winked. 'Born and raised.'
...
'Don't ever put your hands on me again.'
'Noted.' His eyes still blazed.
Her fingers curled once more. She selected her next words like throwing knives. 'If you think this training nonsense is going to result in your climbing into my bed, you're delusional.' She added with a slice of a smile. 'I'd rather let in a mangy street dog.'
'Oh, it's not going to result in me climbing into your bed.'
Nesta snickered, victory achieved, and had reached the stairs when he crooned, 'You'll climb into mine.'
She whirled toward him, foot still suspended midair. 'I'd rather not.'
Cassian threw her a mocking smile. 'We'll see.'
She fumbled for more of those sharp-edged words, for a sneer or a snarl, or anything, but his smile grew. 'You have three minutes to get ready now.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
I miss sex.'
...
'If you're looking for a little fun, I'm happy to oblige-' Ridoc starts, shoving his floppy brown hair off his forehead with a wink.
'I miss good sex,' I counter, smothering a smile...
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I'm Kino. You've fallen for me, haven't you?!” He winked again. Yeah, maybe a little. She sighed.
”
”
E.V. Drake (The Scribemaster Chronicles)
“
Can you show Nesta how to ward it herself? Something perhaps with a bit more... oomph?'
'Oomph?' Rhys asked, lifting an eyebrow.
'Oomph,' Feyre said, throwing him a glare. 'We can't all be silver-tongued like you.'
Rhys winked. 'Good thing you benefit from it, Feyre darling.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4))
“
Better make sure Lady Eden Montmayne don’t lose her head and run off with a lute player,” said Cuthbert. “Or you’ll really be for it.”
Fen looked at him with horror, and he tipped her a wink. “You are not funny, Cuthbert,” she said, rallying herself.
”
”
Alice Coldbreath (His Forsaken Bride (Vawdrey Brothers, #2))
“
The watch," I pointed. "Put it in the watch,"
"Shhhh." Chase winked at me. "The men are talking now.
”
”
Rachel Van Dyken (Elude (Eagle Elite, #7))