4
" His face goes shy, eyes flitting down, then back up to mine. "Yes, Monty," he says, and he smiles on my name. "I love you. And I want to be with you."
"And you, Percy," I return, touching my nose to his, "are the great love of my life. Whatever happens from here, I hope that's the one thing that never changes."
My hands are upon his face, mirror to the spot where I'll carry red, puckered scars for the rest of my life. In his gaze, they seem to matter less. We are not broken things, neither of us. We are cracked pottery mended with lacquer and flakes of gold, whole as we are, complete unto each other. Complete and worthy and so very loved.
"May I kiss you?" I ask.
"Abso-bloody-lutely you may," he says.
And so I do. "
― Mackenzi Lee , The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)
16
" Percy rests his chin on top of my head, his hands on my shoulders as we too turn our faces to the shore. 'Did you know—' he says.
'Oh, are we playing the did you know game?'
'Did you know this year is not going to be a disaster?'
'I don’t believe it.'
'It is not going to be a disaster,' he repeats overtop of me, 'because it is you and I and the Continent and not even Lockwood or your father can wreck it completely. I promise.'
He nudges the side of my head with his nose until I consent to look up at him, then does that tipped-head smile again, and I swear to God it's so adorable I forget my own damn name.
'France on the horizon, Captain,' I say.
'Steel thyself, mate,' he replies. "
― Mackenzi Lee , The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1)
