Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7) QUOTES

1 " Fear had a tendency to drive away the courtesy of civilization. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

2 " He’d forgotten, in those long years in Bedlam, through fear and grief and pain, what it was like to simply be with a pretty woman. To tease and flirt and yes, perhaps steal a kiss. He didn’t know how she felt about that kiss—or if she’d let him kiss her again, but he was certainly going to try. He had lost time to make up—much of life itself to live. He’d spent four years in limbo, simply existing, while others found lovers and friends, even started families. He wanted to live again. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

3 " Good Lord, His Grace the Ass hiding in the bushes,” Apollo muttered. “Whatever are you doing here?” “Ah, Kilbourne, you’ve regained your voice,” Wakefield drawled. “Pity, but I presume my wife is thrilled. And you are?” He looked pointedly at Montgomery. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

4 " She pulled back and murmured, “I’m still mad at you.” “Are you?” His wounded voice had descended into Stygian depths. He pressed open-mouthed kisses to her jaw. “Yes.” She yanked at his hair in emphasis. He grunted, but her grip didn’t prevent him from lowering his mouth to hers again. He nipped at her lips and then licked at them, softening the sting. “I’ll have to see what I can do to regain your good graces. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

5 " He bent to lay his mouth on hers, thrusting his tongue lazily past her lips until she sucked on the thick length. “Are they any different?” he whispered against her mouth, “my kisses? Have they changed so much with my name?” She cracked her eyelids to look at him and murmur into the humid heat between them, “I can’t tell. Perhaps you should demonstrate again.” He licked at the corner of her mouth. “A scientific study, you mean?” His mouth trailed up her cheek, soft as a moth. “Quite,” she breathed. “As you wish. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

6 " In that moment Apollo resolved that no matter how ridiculous their mating might be, he wasn’t going to let her change her mind. She was his now—and if he had any say in the matter, she’d be his always. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

7 " Apollo widened his eyes, trying to look harmless—sadly, nearly impossible. He’d hit six feet at age fifteen and topped that by several inches in the fourteen years since. Add to that the width of his shoulders, his massive hands, and a face that his sister had once affectionately compared to a gargoyle’s, and trying to appear harmless became something of a lost cause. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

8 " Lily stopped dead in the doorway to her room and then took a step back. Apollo cocked his head. It’d been a very long day full of trepidation mixed with tediousness and he’d used up all his patience. “If you leave, I’ll follow you out and we’ll have this discussion in the hallway where everyone can hear.” She scowled ferociously at him, but came all the way in the room and shut the door. “What do you want to talk about?” “Us.” “There’s nothing to discuss.” “Yes,” he said patiently, “there is. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

9 " They had taken away something very important from him when he’d been made helpless. It should’ve broken him, being forced into chains. Yet it hadn’t. Even in her grief she was amazed. She framed his face with her hands, tilting it up so she could look in his eyes. “You survived. You endured and survived.” His lips curved bitterly. “I had no choice.” She shook her head. “There’s always a choice. You could’ve given up, let them take your soul and mind, but you didn’t. You persevered. I think you are the bravest man I have ever met.” “I think, then, that you’ve not met many men,” he whispered. His voice was light, but his face still held the years of tragedy. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

10 " When he’d worked in the garden, he’d awoken as the birds had heralded the rising sun. But here inside, in a soft bed with a softer, warm woman against his side, he found it harder to brush away the tendrils of sleep. “What?” Lily mumbled as he gently removed her arm from his belly. He’d like to linger longer. To kiss her awake and make love to her again, but it was only a matter of time before the servants descended on the room. Besides, the sooner he left, the less likely that he’d run into other guests. So he dressed quickly as she sighed and rolled to burrow into the warm spot he’d left. Apollo gathered his coat and gave a last glance around the room before bending to kiss her again on the lips. Her brow wrinkled ferociously and she cracked her eyelids to mutter, “Is it?” He smiled. Evidently she wasn’t an alert waker. “I’ll see you later.” Her only reply was an unfeminine grunt as she pulled a pillow over her head. The smile still lingered as he crept into the hall and gently shut the door behind him. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

11 " that Lady Herrick has a birthmark in the shape of a butterfly on her left buttock. Oh, and that said birthmark turns an interesting shade of lavender when slapped.” Apollo stopped in the hallway outside the breakfast room and simply stared at his companion. “What?” Montgomery looked irritated. “I defy any man to not take the opportunity when presented to slap a lovely arse. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

12 " She stood still a moment, watching him, and he had no idea at all what she was thinking. Finally she laughed quietly, gesturing with her free hand at the marble figure. “It’s a minotaur. I suppose that’s appropriate.” He looked at the figure, all horns and massive shoulders. “The monster in the maze?” “Yes.” She turned in the dark to face him, and all he could see was the limned starlight on her cheek, the glimmer of the reflected moon in her eyes. “Indio thought you were a monster at first. Did I ever tell you?” He shook his head slowly. “Am I still a monster to you?” “No.” She reached up to trace his eyebrow. “You’re not… that. You never were, really. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

13 " What the hell was that?” he hissed at Montgomery. “A question.” The duke reached for another piece of toast. “Did you mean to alert him to our investigation on purpose?” Apollo growled. “Yes and no.” Montgomery shrugged. “I’m bored. Nothing’s happening. Sometimes it’s best to send the fox into the chicken house to see if a snake slithers out. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

14 " His hand stilled on her hair and he said, very carefully and calmly, “There is never any excuse for a man to hit a woman—any woman—let alone one he professes to love.” She was quiet a moment, just basking in his gentle strength. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

15 " And yet he was holding the hand of a little boy and trailing the boy’s exasperating mother. Perhaps he was lonely. Or perhaps it was the look in her eyes when he’d emerged from the pond and found her watching him that urged his footsteps on. It had been a long time—a very, very long time—since a woman had last looked at him like that. As if she saw something she liked. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

16 " What,” she barked, “is that?” “We have a guest for supper tonight,” Miss Stump replied, and as she glanced back at him he thought he saw a mischievous glint in her eye. “Indio’s monster, in fact—though Indio now calls him Caliban.” “Caliban?” Maude narrowed her eyes, cocking her head as she examined him critically. “Aye, I can see that, but is he safe in the theater with us is what I’m wanting to know?” Apollo felt a tug on his hand. He looked down at Indio, who whispered, “She’s nice. Truly. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

17 " Then why in God’s name did you grab for George’s pistol when you knew help was coming?” Apollo asked. “They weren’t here yet and he was going to shoot you,” she said, placing her palms on his chest. “I couldn’t let him.” His throat closed and he couldn’t reply. All he could do was pull her into his arms and hold her close. "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

18 " So it was understandable that Lily didn’t at first notice the very large man in her bed when she entered the room assigned to her. When she did, she stopped dead and hissed, “You can’t be in here!” The covers were pulled to his waist, but he appeared to be quite naked underneath. “Why not?” Apollo asked, apparently having forgotten all the social niceties that someone must’ve taught him as a small child. “Because this is your sister’s house.” He cocked his head. “Actually it’s His Grace the Ass’s house, but I do see your meaning. You know she’s a floor above us? "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

19 " Lily…” “I thought we were friends.” He rose in one movement. “I thought we were more than friends.” Her eyes widened and she backed up a step, seemingly without conscious thought, as he advanced on her, until her bottom hit the door. He should be gentler, should approach her with caution. Even now she might be afraid of what had been said about him. But he was weary—so very, very weary—of things being taken from him. He wasn’t going to lose her as well. Not if he could help it. He halted inches from her. “Weren’t we, Lily? More than friends?” Her lips parted as her breath quickened, but she showed no fear of him. “You know we were.” “Then that hasn’t changed.” She laughed, incredulous. “Are you insane? "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)

20 " When at last they rose by some unspoken male accord, she noticed with a pang that Indio came only to Caliban’s waist. The man towered over the boy, so much taller and broader that his gentleness was all the more moving as a result. They walked to the pond’s bank and Indio launched his boat. Caliban restrained Daffodil from jumping in after. This man was not at all like Kitty’s husband. Not at "

― Elizabeth Hoyt , Darling Beast (Maiden Lane, #7)