Everyone has their absolute favorite romance and fantasy reads that they revisit time and again. Sometimes starting from the beginning and reading all the way through. And sometimes there are just THOSE scenes that take your breath away and stay with you forever and it’s nice to jump back in for a little reminder of why you loved them so much. So this is Smexy’s trip down memory lane to our favorite scenes from our favorite books. I thought I’d start with one of mine. – Angela

There was no privacy at the side of the ship, so Ariq blocked her body from sight with his. He cupped her pale face in his hands, and kissed her, and stole a pin from her hair.

Her fingers bunched in his tunic, holding him close. Urgently her jade eyes searched his. Her voice was a strained whisper. “If you can’t give the machine to him… if you can’t let him burn that path to the royal city, tell Mara and Cooper. Tell my brother. They can come for me.”

Ariq hadn’t known a man could survive so much pride and pain at once. Though she had no reason to care anything about his people, his wife would sacrifice herself to stop Ghazan Bator from claiming the machine.

His wife would thought he would sacrifice her.

Gently, he kissed her again and said against her lips. “I am going to kneel before you. Place your foot upon my hand to the count of five.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why?”

“So that you know where my loyalties lie.”

And so that everyone would know that if he returned and found even a small bruise upon her skin, he would destroy them all.

Though her confusion didn’t fade, she nodded. Ariq sank to one knee and lay the back of his right hand upon the deck. Her bare foot was long and narrow, and she barely put any weight upon his palm. But she was smiling, as if now she was the one who thought he might have gone mad.

Behind him was a sudden silence.

Ariq rose swiftly when it was done. Her smile had vanished, and her eyes asked him Why?

“You are my queen,” he told her, and clasped her hand to his overfilled heart. Though emotion roughened his voice, he spoke quietly. This was only for her. “I am your sword and your shield. I am your wolf and your steed. Mountains will tremble at my approach, for they know I will tear them apart if ever they stand between us. But you need not be afraid, Zenobia Fox, because my heart is iron and my will is steel, and before the new moon rises, I will come for you.”

Lips parting, she stared up at him, with a light in her face and a fire in her eyes. No fear.

Good. He kissed her and as he pulled away, he wasn’t leaving her. It was just the first step back to her side.

And he told her, “I’m coming for you.”

*Happy Sigh* This is one of my favorite all-time books and I reread it often. Ariq and Zenobia are simply the best.

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