Adrian, I'm on a date. Why are you here? On my car?

— Richelle Mead

Adrian Ivanhoe wasn’t easy to surprise, but I surprised him then when I brought his mouth toward mine. I kissed him, and for a moment, he was too stunned to respond. That lasted for, oh, about a second. Then the intensity I’d come to know so well in him returned. He pushed me backward, lifting me so that I sat at the table. The tablecloth bunched up, knocking over some of the glasses. I heard what sounded like a china plate crash against the floor. Whatever logic and reason I normally possessed had melted away. There was nothing but flesh and fire left, and I wasn’t going to lie to myself—at least not tonight.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian smiled and clasped my hands, taking a few steps toward me. "And as for who you are, you’re the same beautiful, brave, and ridiculously smart caffeinated fighter you’ve been since the day I met you.” Finally, he put “beautiful” at the top of his list of adjectives. Not that I should have cared.“Sweet talker,” I scoffed. “You didn’t know anything about me the first time we met.”“I knew you were beautiful,” he said. “I just hoped for the rest.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian suddenly glanced up at me. Our gazes locked, and I felt like he could read my mind. How often did he think about that kiss? And if he really was crazy about me, did he imagine more than just kissing? Did he fantasize about me? What kinds of things did he think about? His lips on my neck? His hand on my leg? And was that leg bare. . . ?

— Richelle Mead

Adrian tipped my face up toward his and kissed me. Like always, the world around me stopped moving. No, the world became Adrian, only Adrian. Kissing him was as mind-blowing as ever, full of that same passion and need I had never believed I’d feel. But today, there was even more to it. I no longer had any doubt about whether this was wrong or right. It was a culmination of a long journey. . . Or maybe the beginning of one. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. I didn’t care that we were out in public. Furthermore, I didn’t care that he was Moro. All that mattered was that he was Adrian, my Adrian. My match. My partner in crime, in the long battle I’d just signed on for to right the wrongs in the Alchemist and Moro worlds. Maybe Marcus was right that I’d also signed myself up for disaster, but I didn’t care. At that moment, it seemed that as long as Adrian and I were together, there was no challenge too great for us. I don’t know how long we stood there kissing. Like I said, the world around me was gone. Time had stopped. I was awash in the feel of Adrian’s body against mine, in his scent, and in the taste of his lips. That was all that mattered right now.

— Richelle Mead

Adrian was easily distractible by wacky topics and shiny objects.

— Richelle Mead

All the while, my mind reeled with what had hap

— Richelle Mead

And besides. . . I don’t want to leave you. Er, you guys.” He smiled, and it lit up his whole face. “Well, ‘we’ are certainly happy to hear that. Oh, and I’m also happy to watch our darling little love child dragon while you’re in St. Louis.” I grinned back.

— Richelle Mead

ARE YOU CRAZY?" I ASKED. He gave me the same wordless look he always did when I asked that question.

— Richelle Mead

Are you in a suit?' I managed at last, my voice choking up. 'You didn’t have to dress up for me.'' Quiet, Sage,' he said. 'I’ll make the hilarious one-liners during this daring rescue.

— Richelle Mead