Sara

“He then kissed her.

It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked up at him, hurt and bewilderment on her face.

“Why did you stop?” asked Tessa.

“I thought you might want to breathe,” said Guy carefully.

“Breathe?” said Tessa, shocked. “I don’t need to breathe when I’m with you.”
― Eva Ibbotson

“Writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”
― Shannon Hale

“When you're sad, my Little Star, go out of doors. It's always better underneath the open sky.”
― Eva Ibbotson, A Countess Below Stairs

“Sicarius,” Amaranthe said quietly.

He bent low, eyes toward her face.

With the men laughing and talking up front, and the lorry clacking and chugging as the stack billowed black smoke into the air, this was scarcely a romantic spot. But maybe it did not matter. His response would not likely be to wrap her in his arms and kiss her. Whatever response he gave — if he gave one at all — she anticipated it would sting.

“I…uhm…” Amaranthe forced herself to meet his gaze. “I love you.”

A long moment passed. She did not remember breathing.

Sicarius nodded infinitesimally. “I know.”
― Lindsay Buroker, Dark Currents