104
" She had disapproved, audibly, repeatedly, and eventually to my face, of my habit of going about with my head uncovered, it being her opinion that it was unseemly for a woman of my age not to wear either cap or kerch, reprehensible for the wife of a man of my husband’s position—and furthermore, that only “backcountry sluts and women of low character” wore their hair loose upon their shoulders. I had laughed, ignored her, and given her a bottle of Jamie’s second-best whisky, with instructions to have a wee nip with her breakfast and another after supper. A "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)
106
" He meant it, but he bent his head to hers and took her mouth, so short of breath he must have hers, needing so urgently to join with her that he would do it in whatever way he might—hands, breath, mouth, arms; his thigh pressed between hers, opening her legs. Her hand lay flat against his chest, as though to push him off—then tightened convulsively, grasping shirt and flesh together. Her fingers dug deep in the muscle of his breast, and then they were glued together, openmouthed and gasping, front teeth scraping painfully in the flurry of their wanting. “I don’t … we’re not …” He broke free for a moment, his mind grasping dimly for the fragments of words. Then her hand found its way under his kilt, a cold, sure touch on his heated flesh, and he lost all power of speech. “Once more before we quit,” she said, and her breath wreathed him in heat and mist. “For old times’ sake.” She sank to her knees in the wet yellow leaves, pulling him down to her. It "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)
111
" Ah,” said MacLeod, satisfaction spreading itself across his weathered features. “It is so, then, that you know all the songs of the Highlands and the Isles?” “Not all,” said Roger, smiling. “But many—and I will learn more.” “Do that,” said MacLeod, nodding slowly. “Do that, Singer—and teach them to your sons.” His eye lighted on Brianna, and a faint smile curled on his lips. “Let them sing to my sons, that they will know the place they came from—though they will never see it.” One "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)
114
" What . . . fellow?” The wind was cool, but I could see sweat trickling down the back of Jamie’s neck, dampening his collar and plastering the linen between his shoulders.
Duff didn’t answer immediately. A look of speculation flickered in his small, deep-set eyes.
“Don’t think about it, Duff,” Roger said, softly, but with great assurance. “I can reach ye from here with an oar, ken?”
“Aye?” Duff glanced thoughtfully from Jamie, to Roger, and then to me. “Aye, reckon ye might. But allowin’ for the sake for argyment as how you can swim, MacKenzie—and even that Mr. Fraser might keep afloat—I dinna think that’s true of the lady, is it? Skirts and petticoats . . .” He shook his head, pursing thin lips in speculation as he looked at me. “Go to the bottom like a stone, she would.”
Peter shifted ever so slightly, bringing his feet under him.
“Claire?” Jamie said. I saw his fingers curl tight round the oars, and heard the note of strain in his voice. I sighed and drew the pistol out from under the coat across my lap.
“Right,” I said. “Which one shall I shoot? "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)
116
" - Eh bien... je ne suis pas sûr de pourvoir l'expliquer, mais je viens de me rendre compte que j'avais vécu plus longtemps que mon père, ce à quoi je ne m'étais jamais attendu. C'est juste que... cela me fait bizarre, c'est tout. Toi qui as perdu ta mère si jeune, tu n'y penses jamais ?
- Si.
Mon visage était enfoui contre son torse, ma voix se perdant dans les plis de sa chemise.
- ... Autrefois, quand j'étais jeune. C'est comme partir en voyage sans carte.
Sa main dans mon dos s'arrêta un instant.
- Oui, c'est ça. Je savais plus ou moins ce que signifiait être un homme trentenaire, quadragénaire... mais maintenant ?
Il émit un petit bruit, un mélange d'amusement et de perplexité.
- Il faut s'inventer soit-même, dis-je doucement. On regarde les autres femmes, ou les autres hommes. On essaie leur vie pour voir si elle nous va. Puis, on cherche à l'intérieur de soi ce qu'on ne trouve pas ailleurs. Et on se demande toujours... toujours... si on a fait ce qu'il fallait.
Sa main était lourde et chaude dans mon dos. Il sentit les larmes qui s'étaient brusquement mises à couler du coin de mes yeux sur sa chemise. Son autre main se posa sur ma tête et caressa mes cheveux.
- Oui, c'est ça, répéta-t-il tout doucement. "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)
118
" He bent and kissed me briefly, then headed for the door. Just short of it, though, he turned back.
"The, um, sperms ..." he said, a little awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"Can ye not take them out and give them decent burial or something?"
I hid my smile in my teacup.
"I'll take good care of them," I promised. "I always do, don't I? "
― Diana Gabaldon , The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)