...a small part of me that worried that Tori wouldn’t be here when I arrived, that I pushed her too far, too fast, that somehow I read her wrong and asked her for more than she was willing to give. But she’s here. She’s magnificent. And she’s mine. That thought steals the air from my lungs. Her shoulders tense at my gasp, when she realizes she’s no longer alone. “Hello, beautiful,” my voice husky. I drop my bags by the door and swiftly cross the room. I only have a split second to take in how devastating she looks in her blue gown. Furthermore, I don’t know who moves first, but she’s in my arms as my lips descend on hers. With that first contact, the knot of tension that’s taken up residence between my shoulder blades releases, and I finally feel like I can breathe fully for the first time since I left for Los Angeles.

— D.L. Hess

As much as I enjoy her laughter, I don’t like the sound of her doubting herself. And that’s something else I’m going to have to think about later on because the more I get to know Tori, the more I start to understand how she thinks and what makes her tick, the more I start to realize. . . This woman could be dangerous.

— D.L. Hess

Beautiful,” his voice is velvet-laced iron, and it makes those thoughts come to a standstill. “I’ve told you before—it’s going to take an act of god to keep me away from you.

— D.L. Hess

Call me Sir.

— D.L. Hess

Do you want to play a game?” he asks, his tone rich and dark and sensuous like his chocolate. Every atom in me stands at attention. “What kind of game?”“We’ll call it ‘Sir Says’. The rules are very simple—I give you a command. . . And you obey.

— D.L. Hess

He’s everything I could want but never dreamed I could have.

— D.L. Hess

Holy mama llama. That’s Nathaniel Stone. Nathaniel Stone is sitting in my booth. Nathaniel Stone is in the Fine while Diner sitting in my booth. I’m supposed to wait on Nathaniel Stone. I’m going to make a fool out of myself. Furthermore, I just know it. Furthermore, I can feel it coming. Crap.

— D.L. Hess

I like to be in charge. I like to guide my bedmate, push her to her limits, expand her horizons. My pleasure comes from the power she gives me to decide how to bring her pleasure. My pleasure comes from the trust she gives me to show her what her body is capable of if she… just…lets…go…

— D.L. Hess

I look around, hoping I can postpone the indignity of stuttering like a lunatic in front of the sexiest man alive – according to People Magazine, twice – while giving him crazy eyes. Of course, everyone looks like they’re taken care of. Except for Mr. Sexy pants, major Hollywood actor, Nathaniel Stone, Sir.

— D.L. Hess

I look at him and my body reacts in a way that it never has before, even in the throes of passion. I look at him and I start aching so deep inside it takes all I can to think, to breathe, to speak. He’s like the brightest flame, and it takes everything in me to resist its call. I know that if I give in, I’ll get burned so deeply, there might be nothing left once I come out the other side. But, god, I want to step into that flame.

— D.L. Hess