Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #81 ~ Taint by S.L. Jennings

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food and/or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Taint by S.L. Jennings

If you had to choose, what flavor would it be?

***

"If you could only eat one flavor of ice cream for the rest of your life, would you pick Rocky Road or mint chocolate chip?"

"Excuse me?" I sit on the stool across from hers, brows raised in question.

"Just humor me. Rocky Road or mint chocolate chip?" She smiles amusingly and digs back into her ice cream.

I'm not sure what to make of this girl. First she's calling me an asshole, and now she's asking me about ice-cream flavors? I frown in confusion.

"Please?" she says just above a whisper. "I haven't had a regular conversation about something other than shoes or handbags, or who our husbands could be sleeping with, in days. I just need to...forget. Just for a little while."

I nod and let out a breath, my chest suddenly full of some foreign, unnamed emotion. Sympathy? Yes. But something else too. And it has nothing to do with pitying her.

"Well, being that I've never had mint chocolate chip, and I vaguely remember trying Rocky Road as a child, I'd have to go with that flavor," I reply with a shrug.

Ally's eyes grow wide with playful shock. "You've never had mint chocolate chip ice cream?"

I shake my head. "Nope."

"Then you haven't lived!" She scoops out a small bite and offers it to me, the spoon a mere inch from my lips. "Go ahead; try it."

Okay, I've got two choices. Door Number One: I refuse to play along with her little game and kick her out of my house, offending her and demolishing any ounce of trust she has for me. Or Door Number Two: I let her innocently spoon-feed me ice cream and force myself to see the act for what it is - a chaste, nonerotic gesture between two adults.

Yeah, right.

I lean forward so that the cold tip of the spoon just grazes my bottom lip. Ally slowly eases it forward, causing me to open wider for her, my tongue reflexively jutting out to taste the first sweet drops of cream. I wrap my lips around the mound of chocolaty mint and suck it off the spoon, letting out my own sounds of pleasure.

"Good, right?" Ally beams, nodding her head.

"Hell yeah," I half-groan against my better judgment. But it's too late. Allison Elliot-Carr has weakened my defenses with just a spoonful of Haagen-Dazs.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #80 ~ Fearless in Texas ~ Kari Lynn Dell

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food and/or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Fearless in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell

This particular scene made my mouth water right along with Wyatt's! =)

***

And then he smelled it.

His digestive juices kicked into overdrive at the scent of fresh-baked bread and fried chicken. He had to stop short inside his newly acquired back gate to avoid a wheeled steer dummy that came zipping toward him, pursued by two men with ropes.

...

Melanie strolled out the door in low-cut jeans and a bright-yellow tank top, her hair rippling loose and a drink in each hand. The sight of her was like a flower bursting into bloom in Wyatt's chest. She sauntered up, passed him a whiskey and Coke, and gave him a wifely peck on the cheek.

...

Wyatt drew a long, appreciative breath. "Please tell me that tastes as good as it smells."

"What do you think?" a new voice demanded.

He stared at the woman who filled the doorway to the kitchen. "Helen?"

"In the flesh, and there's still a whole lot of it."

She folded him into a hug that was like being swallowed by Mother Earth, then stepped back and looked him up and down with a critical eye. "All gaunted up from the road, just like Joe used to be. You go on in and find a seat. I'll fix you a plate."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #79 ~ Past Imperfect ~ Alison G. Bailey

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Past Imperfect by Alison G. Bailey

I picked this particular scene because it made me laugh! =)

***

She huffed, blowing her bangs up and off her forehead. "They didn't include any forks," she said, slightly annoyed.

Swallowing a piece of my sesame chicken, I said, "Use the chopsticks."

Scrunching up her eyebrows she looked at the two sticks as if a person would need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how to use them. She tentatively picked them up and peeled the paper away that they were wrapped in. I continued to eat while watching her out of the corner of my eye as she tried to position the chopsticks correctly between her fingers and attempted to pick up a piece of chicken. I felt her eyes on me, watching as I popped another piece in my mouth and then picked up some rice and vegetables with ease. She attempted using the prehistoric eating tools a couple of more times without success. She was stubborn and determined to master them herself.

Unable to keep the smile off my face and the laughter out of my voice, I turned to her and asked, "Mabry, you've never used chopsticks before, have you?" Sarcasm flowed through each word.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Smartass."

"I'm a smartass with a belly full of Chinese," I said patting my stomach. "It's delicious too. Gimme." I extended my hand, flexing my fingers for her to hand over the chopsticks. She looked back and forth between my hand and the sticks before finally slapping them into my palm. "Turn around."

"Turn around?" she asked confused.

"Yes, so your back is to me."

"What are you going to do?" She sounded alarmed.

"I'm going o show you how to feed yourself. Just trust me and turn around." She did and I moved in closer to her.

...

My eyes closed while I breathed in a little more of her. I caught an unobstructed view of the very top of her tits and my hand went slack. I felt Mabry jerk around and then yelp.

"Ugh, I think a snow pea went down my bra," she said snapping me out of my haze.

"What?"

"Snow pea. In. My. Bra."

Lucky snow pea.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #78 ~ Beautifully Done ~ Riley Mackenzie

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Beautifully Done by Riley Mackenzie

Asher and Talia have recently reconnected and they meet up in a bar to catch up. Yes, there's some playful bantering about their choices in beverages but after a few too many of their chosen beverages, they're dealing with the after effects the next day...

***

"What's up with the wannabe champagne?"

"I like it. Like you're one to talk. Heineken?"

"What? It's a solid classic. Never disappoints, always delicious." Come on. Was there an argument?

...

Let me make it up to you.

Egg sandwiches make everything better.

U promising bacon?

Only girl I knew who appreciated bacon.

For you anything

...

"Think I might need hash browns, too." She was pathetically adorable I was ready to fry the potatoes myself.

A carafe of high test, two bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, and a serious order of hash browns later, we felt human again. 

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #77 ~ Once Bitten, Twice Shy ~ C.C. Wood

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Once Bitten, Twice Shy by C.C. Wood

So Lex is the bossy Greek vampire but in this scene he shows he's very capable of caring for his woman. 

***

"Lex put a stew together for our lunch this morning before the guys left," she said.

I jerked my hand back from the lid of the pot as though I'd burned myself. "What?"

She went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water before she went to the bar and sat down on a stool.

"Yeah. He knew you hadn't eaten breakfast and said you were losing too much weight. He put all that together in like fifteen minutes and told me to make sure you ate a bowl of it around noon."

I stared at her blankly for a few seconds. "He said I'm losing too much weight?" I asked incredulously.

I was short, but not a small woman. In fact, my mother, who had been the same size since high school, gave me a huge guilt trip about my weight almost every time we spoke. I even had a bit of a complex about it. I had curves and I likely always would. No way in hell would I starve myself to fit what society considered the 'norm'. Did I want to be healthier? Yes, but I didn't necessarily think those stick-thin women were healthier either. A person who enjoyed good nutrition shouldn't be able to count every rib.

Donna smirked at me. "Yeah, apparently the Greek god agrees with me that you're gorgeous just the way you are."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #76 ~ Lord Midnight ~ Donna Cummings

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Lord Midnight by Donna Cummings

I'm really not much of a brandy drinker but it does have its purposes and I like how Marisa used it to suit hers...and Gabriel's.

***

He sat down, his eyes widening at the heavily-laden tray on the table between them. "'Tis a veritable feast! And brandy no less! I imagine that request must have raised a few eyebrows belowstairs."

The lass was eminently resourceful, and he would be wise to remember that.

...

"I convinced Daphne that even my father espoused the medicinal properties of brandy on occasion. Of course," she confessed, "Father would add the blatant falsehood to the list of my failings should he ever learn of it."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #75 ~ Between Marriage and Merger ~ Karen Booth

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Between Marriage and Merger by Karen Booth

I chose this passage for its humor. The owners of the hotel where Lily and Noah were staying (for a wedding) were trying to help them celebrate their engagement, which would've been great if it'd been a real engagement. Lily hasn't been able to get Noah to enjoy any part of their weekend...

***

There were three bottles of champagne in their fridge - one from yesterday, one from last night after the rehearsal dinner and a third that had shown up with that morning's room service alongside a beautiful tropical fruit platter and some omelets. They hadn't ordered the bubbly, but Marcy and Lyle had sent it anyway. They were apparently highly invested in Noah and Lily's engagement. At least someone was. Noah had shown no interest in at least enjoying their odd predicament in paradise.

And Lily was sick of it.

Pop. She waited until the wispy mist had trailed out of the bottle before pouring herself a glass of glorious golden bubbles.

"Oh. You decided to open one," Noah said, walking into the room all dressed for the wedding. He looked perfect, of course. Whomever had designed the modern-day men's suit had clearly had Noah in mind when they'd come up with the idea. He was straight out of the pages of a magazine.

"Can't let all this champagne go to waste."

"We could pour it out before we leave."

Lily took a sip. The effervescent sweetness was delightful on her lips and tongue. It was quite frankly the first blip of pleasure she'd had in the last several hours. Being around Noah was killing her. "We are not pouring this out. It's way too good. In fact, I'm pouring you a glass right now." She didn't bother to wait for his response. Maybe it would loosen him up a little bit. 

"Fair enough." He took a sip and nodded. "Okay. You're right. It's delicious. We should drink every drop."

"That's the spirit."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #74 ~ The Red Lily ~ Juliette Cross

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

The Red Lily by Juliette Cross

I chose this passage despite the fact there isn't much mentioned as far as actual food or drink besides the tea because this scene was meaningful in how Nikolai looked after Sienna. They'd had a long journey, in the rain, that day. And even though he's a vampire and doesn't need food or drink, he made sure Sienna had both to ensure her comfort.

***

"There you are, my lady. Please come and have a warm cup of tea."

She upended the teacup that was facedown across from Nikolai and poured a steaming cup as Sienna made her way to them. He rose from his seat and watched her. She thought she was accustomed to the way Nikolai tracked her movements by now, but the heat in his gaze as he followed her from the door to his table nearly buckled her knees.

She sat across from him, her eyes on the tea. He took his seat again.

"I will bring a few refreshments in a moment," said the innkeeper with a smile before leaving them alone, for there was no one else in the parlor.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #73 ~ At Peace ~ Kristen Ashley

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

At Peace by Kristen Ashley

***

"Buddy?" Joe called when we were in bed.

I was in his tee, my cheek to his chest, his heart beating in my ear and I was half asleep.

"Yeah?"

"That first time, shoulda made me a hot fudge sundae."

My head came up and I looked in the direction of his face, even though I couldn't really see him because it was dark.

"What?"

"Before I f*cuked you over the first time, you should made me a hot fudge sundae."

"Why?" I asked.

"I wouldn't have f*cked you over. I woulda taken you to Vegas."

"Vegas?"

"Married you, Vi," he said, sounding like he was close to laughing.

"What?" I breathed.

"They're that good."

"What are?"

His hand curled around the back of my head and he urged, definitely laughing now, "Stick with me here, honey. Your sundaes. They're that good."

My sundaes were good. I loved my sundaes. The hot fudge was Bea's recipe but I made it better simply by putting in a bit of cinnamon.

Still, I asked, "You wouldn't have told me you were done with me if I'd made you a sundae? Instead, you would have married me?"

"Yeah."

"Are you tryin' to piss me off when I'm half asleep?"

"Just givin' you a heads up on what'll keep me happy."

I pushed up higher. "You are tryin' to piss me off when I'm half asleep."

He curled up, his arms went around me, and suddenly I was on my back, Joe on me.

That's What HE Said #78 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #72 ~ Shine ~ Dannika Dark

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* 

My pick this week for That's What He Said AND Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

Shine by Dannika Dark

I cannot explain to you how much I adore Logan Cross. He's a total alpha male and so absolutely far from being an alpha-hole. If you haven't met him, you *MUST* rectify this immediately. Then come tell me how much you love him. *big grin*

***

"I will never let you go if you keep me in your heart, Little Raven. I will never leave you as long as you hear my voice whispering in your ear. No one lives forever. It's not what you take from this life--it's what you give. When it's my time--whenever that may be--I want to know that I left you with hope. You gave me that gift on the night we met, when I watched hum a song in the kitchen while heating up enchiladas for a stranger at your table. Pass it on someday to someone who needs it more than you."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #72 ~ One with You ~ Sylvia Day

This week's quote comes from One with You by Sylvia Day. I think the scene, from Gideon's POV, is sweet and shows where he and Eva are at this point in their relationship. It also helped me decide on one dinner item for my week! ;)

She'd set us up to eat at the island, putting Chris and me on the side with bar stools, while she stood opposite us and ate standing up. She was so casual and relaxed, as was the atmosphere she'd created.
Three pillar candles fragranced the air with something citrusy and spicy. Dinner was a seared steak salad, with Gorgonzola, sliced red onions, red and yellow sweet peppers, and a tangy vinaigrette. Crispy bread soaked in garlic butter stayed warm in a napkin-lined basket, while a decanted bottle of red wine waited to fill stemless glasses.
I watched her as she swayed to the music while she ate and chatted with Chris about the Outer Banks beach house. I remembered for a moment how the penthouse had been before she'd started moving in. It was where I lived, but I couldn't say it was home. On some level, I must have known she was coming when I bought the place. It waited for her, as I had, needing her to bring life into it.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #71 ~ Captivated by You ~ Sylvia Day

This week's quote comes from Captivated by You by Sylvia Day, and Gideon in the kitchen? Total swoon!! =)

She flashed me a dazzling smile, then opened the fridge to pull out the carton of half-and-half. While she took care of that, I plated the french toast.
...
She cut into her food and forked a bite to her mouth. She hummed her appreciation. "Yummy," she mumbled.
"I'm glad you like it."
"You're hot and you can cook. I'm a lucky girl."
I decided not to tell her I'd just downloaded the recipe that morning.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #70 ~ Bared to You ~ Sylvia Day

I recently re-read Bared to You by Sylvia Day because it's a series I need to finish but it's been so long since I've read the first two (the only books I've read in the series) that I wanted a refresher. I devoured the book and found several quotes I can share. =)

This particular quote is from a scene where Gideon and Eva have been discussing where the relationship is going to go. 
Burger, anyone? *wink*

He carried me over to the bar and set me down on a bar stool. He pulled the dome off my place setting and revealed a massive cheeseburger and fries. The meal was still warm, thanks to a heated granite slab beneath the plate.
"Yum," I murmured, becoming aware of how hungry I was. Now that we'd talked, my appetite had returned full force.
He snapped open my napkin and laid it over my lap with a squeeze to my knee; then he took the seat beside me. "So, how do we do this?"
"Well, you pick it up with your hands and put it in your mouth."
He shot me a wry look that made me smile. It felt good to smile. It felt good to be with him. It usually did...for a little while. I took a bite of my burger, moaning when I got a full hit of its flavor. It was a traditional cheeseburger, but the taste was divine.
"Good, right?" he asked.
"Very good. In fact, a guy who knows about burgers this good might be worth keeping to myself."

That's What HE Said #77 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #69 ~ Ride Steady ~ Kristen Ashley

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

My pick this week for That's What He Said is from:

Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

I re-read Joker and Carissa's story in my quest for reading KA's books in the order she recommends. I loved them just as much as I did the first time. Maybe more. :)

***

"I don't know where this will lead," he stated. "You and me and your boy. I know what we got. I know I like what we got. I know I wanna keep that strong and make it stronger. Shit happens. I hope like fuck it happens to us, we'll fight through to the other side. But I know this and you gotta know it too. No matter what happens, I will never, not ever, not fuckin' ever, Carissa, regret ridin' down that shoulder to help you and your boy. It's the best decision I ever made in my life, and I know that in a way I know I'll feel that until the day I fuckin' die."

***

I love this exchange between Carissa and Joker. And it gave me a hankering for some chili, too. :)

"Do you like chili?"
"Yeah."
"Chili," I declared and started to grab cans of beans.
"You know, a list helps," he remarked.
"I have a mental list," I told him, tossing kidney beans in the cart and going back for black.
"Was chili on it?" he asked.
I looked at him. "Don't you want chili?"
"What I want is not to wander every aisle so we're here for an hour rather than bein' here for twenty minutes gettin' shit from a list."
"If I stick to a list, inspiration can't strike, like the fact I suddenly have a craving for chili," I told him.
He shook his head, grinning and muttering, "Whatever."
He wasn't annoyed.
He was easy.
So I turned back and grabbed black beans. Then I got some chili beans. I finished up with pinto.
Four-bean chili. The best.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #68 ~ Impulse ~ Dannika Dark

This week's snippet is from Impulse by Dannika Dark. Honestly, it stuck out to me for two reasons: 1) the importance and emotion of Logan feeding, or in this case providing a beverage to, Silver, and 2) my very fond childhood memories of this particular beverage thanks to my grandma. *grins* The rest of the snippet, between Simon, Silver, and Logan, just made me giggle, so I had to share. *winks* 

***

"Why only one nipple ring?"
Simon glanced down and grumbled. "Hurt like a bugger; told the blighter I changed my mind." He flicked it with his pinky finger. "I'm too bleeding irritated about the whole affair to take it out." 
"You faced a firing squad, and yet you weep like a baby over a needle? I'm revoking your man card." 
"Let's pierce your nipples and see how much you warm up to the idea."
"I'll agree to that, " Logan said, setting a glass of chocolate milk in front of me. He swept my hair back and lowered his voice. "I'll be happy to assist with any healing you'll need."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #67 ~ Steal the Light ~ Lexi Blake

This week's scene is from Steal the Light, and it did a nice job of setting the tone for the story letting us get acquainted with Zoey and how she operates...

***

Discretion was why I usually held my client meetings at Canelli's. It was dumpy and trapped in the fifties, with its retro booths and tables with red and white checkered linens. The walls were covered in wood paneling that had seen better days, and the bar had a solid, well-used feel to it. It was the kind of bar where you ordered a martini - not some fruity apple or peartini, but a solid gin martini, just like Dino liked 'em. Canelli's had no windows, so there was a perpetual gloom to the dining area. Because there were no windows, there were also no prying eyes to look inside from the safety of the street. If you wanted to know what went on in Canelli's, you had to take a chance and enter the den. It looked like the set of a Martin Scorsese crime drama, and with good reason. It really was run by the mob, and they trained their staff well. They also made a kickass chicken piccata.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #66 ~ Fire Inside ~ Kristen Ashley

This scene is from Fire Inside, which I re-read for #COYER over the summer. There are lots of food quotes from this book because Lanie is a heck of a Southern cook. (so you'll probably see more) But this scene was Hop taking care of his lady and it struck me in the heart just like it did her. 

***

"Pastrami," he muttered. "Provolone. Had them grill it and hold the mustard. Nothin' should mar that blouse, lady." He dipped his head to my blouse, his lips curved up in appreciation. "There's packets in the bag if you wanna go wild."
I reached for the bag thinking, yes, he was getting to me.
I mean, everyone knew you had mustard on pastrami but very few would think to hold it in case you were willing to make the sacrifice because you were wearing a nice blouse.
Thoughtful.
Sweet.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts ~ Just One Lie by Kyra Davis

This week's quote is from Just One Lie and I had to share it because I'm thinking I may have found a neat drink to try on New Year's...or anytime I feel like it! ;)

***

The ocean looks like a giant black shadow, roaring for us as we find a little corner of beach to sit on, the champagne and brown bag held in Ash's hand. He reaches inside and pulls out two plastic flutes and a small bottle of vodka.
"Vodka?" I ask as he pours a shot into each glass.
"Not quite as cold as I'd like," he admits as he expertly loosens the cage around the cork of the champagne and then opens the bottle with only the slightest pop so he doesn't spill a drop. "The champagne will take care of the temperature." In a moment he's filled the rest of our glasses with bubbly. "It's called an Arctic Kiss," he says with a little smile before lifting his flute and handing me mine. "What should be drink to? New beginnings?"
"To new discoveries," I counter.
"To passion!" he rallies, making a game of it.
"Umm..." I struggle to come up with something new. And then I look out at the dark sea. How can something be so ominous and so enticing at the same time? My lips curl into a sad little smile as I clink my plastic glass against his. "To the end of the world."

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #64 ~ World After by Susan Ee

This particular scene is from World After and I had to share it because it was one moment when Penryn, and Raffe, get to be relatively normal when everything else in the world is very far from normal.

***

Raffe comes back from foraging with a box of cereal and a jar of peanut butter. I wanted to get moving but he insisted that soldiers need food to fight properly. Besides, he said he needed time to think about his next step. So he took off into the night with his very handy night vision while I sat in the house beside my candles.
The cereal is raisin bran and the raisins taste like heaven--I mean, nirvana--or whatever wonderful place doesn't remind me of deadly angels.
For once, our hands are clean, so we eat handfuls of cereal and lick the peanut butter straight from our fingers. I suppose this place probably has utensils in the kitchen but why bother? There's something kind of fun about scooping the gooey goodness with our fingers and licking it like ice cream.
Raisin bran and peanut butter. Who knew it could taste so good? If we could just add a bit of chocolate, it would probably make a great, peanutty, crunchy chocolate bar for the high school bake sale. Okay, maybe it wouldn't taste quite so good compared to the foods in the World Before, but right now, it tastes amazing.

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #63 ~ Blindfolded Innocence by Alessandra Torre

I recently binged on Alessandra Torre's Innocence trilogy. This particular scene is from Blindfolded Innocence, the first in the trilogy. It made me laugh...because I could so relate! *wink* See, Julia doesn't like seafood...

***

The bottom rung of the silver tower was empty when they had delivered it, but was now being filled with the empty lobster and crab claw shells.
Light bulb.
Fifteen minutes later, Brad sat back with a satisfied groan. "I have been dreaming of those claws for weeks." He met my eyes with a Cheshire grin. "Well? Was I right or what?" I smiled at him over the champagne and empty plate.
"It was very good, Brad. Thank you."
"I don't know how you look so put together. I always feel like I need a bath after eating this stuff." He wiped his face with his napkin and pulled at his bib, breaking the plastic tie. "Should we get another or do you want to go ahead and order dinner?"
"Dinner, please," I said quickly. Brad's eyes looked at me for a moments, then he shrugged. "Sounds good to me."
The waiter appeared and began pulling the silver trays off of the tower, starting with the top tray. Uh-oh. I had anticipated them taking the entire tower at one time, as they had brought it to us. My mind raced with something to distract Brad with.
Shrimp platter gone.
"I was thinking Brad..."
Clams and oysters level gone.
"...maybe tonight, after the show..."
Lobster level taken.
"...we could, ahhh..." Don't look down!!
The large silver platter that had housed the tangled pile of Snow and King Crab legs was lifted, exposing the plate of empty shells. Empty shells and expensive meat of crab and lobster I had carefully hidden under the guise of placing my shells in the plate. The meat, which had been strategically hidden from the side view, was now fully-exposed, crab and lobster stretched out like bathing beauties on South Beach.