Colleen Houck Quotes & Sayings

I peeked at him out of the corner of my eye. He had a slight smirk on his face. I imagined he was mentally checking off a task in his planner.
Seduce date by talking about other girls
Impress date with number of awards you have received
Do not spend money on date
Make date watch corny movie in media center
Sneak in comments about your frugality
Put arm around date at exactly the halfway mark of the movie — Colleen Houck

It's like this ... a starving man would gladly eat a radish, right? In fact, a radish would be a feast if that's all he had. But if he had a buffet in front of him, the radish would never be chosen. — Colleen Houck

I am as wrapped up in her as a vine that clings to a tree seeking for sustenance. She's tied me to her for eternity. She's my home. She's my reason for being. To win and hold her heart is my only purpose. — Colleen Houck

Kishan spoke intently, "Kelsey is all that a man could ask for. She's perfect for you. She loves poetry and sits endlessly content while listening to you sing and play your guitar. She waited months for you to come after her, and she has risked her life repeatedly to save your mangy white hide. She's sweet and loving and warm and beautiful and would make you immeasurably happy."
There was a pause. Then I heard Ren say incredulously, "You love her."
Kishan didn't answer right away, but then said softly, almost so I couldn't hear it, "No man in his right mind wouldn't, which proves you aren't in your right mind. — Colleen Houck

We hopped back into the Jeep, and he drove us along a back road, which changed to a dirt road, which changed to gravel, which changed to two lines in the dirt, and then disappeared altogether. — Colleen Houck

Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're hunting me. I'm not an antelope. — Colleen Houck

You must learn to take a step back and visualize the whole piece. If you focus only on the thread given to you, you lose sight of what it can become. — Colleen Houck

A tear dropped from my cheek to his forehead. "Please don't die," I whispered. — Colleen Houck

I sighed softly and basked in the barrage of Ren's kisses- drowning kisses, soft kisses, sultry kisses, kisses that lasted a mere second, and kisses that lasted an eternity. It was easy to believe that my warrior-angel had captured me and had flown me up to heaven. A deep rumble echoed in his chest.
I pulled back, laughing. "Are you growling at me?"
He laughed softly, twisted my hair ribbon around his fingers, and pulled gently, loosening my braid. Biting my ear lightly, he whispered a threat, "You have been driving me crazy for three weeks. You're lucky all I'm doing is growling. — Colleen Houck

Love is fleeting. It's a brief spark that flares in the heavens, bursting forth in a cascade of glory only to be snuffed out in the darkness of space. It is not something worth risking the cosmos over. — Colleen Houck

The generations rose and fell like so many waves upon the beach, and he stood alone, a rocky, unmovable sentinel, letting the waves of humanity pass him by, hardly noticing them at all. — Colleen Houck

I suddenly felt vulnerable. Continuing the journey without Mr. Kadam left me anxious. It felt like the first day of high school all over again-if high school was one of the biggest countries in the world and everyone spoke a different language. — Colleen Houck

A young man who doesn't have the foresight to seek out the girl he wants to be with and actively pursue her, doesn't deserve her. — Colleen Houck

Falling for him would be like cliff diving. It would be either the most exhilarating thing that ever happened to me or the stupidest mistake I'd ever make. — Colleen Houck

As we passed, I leaned over and asked, "Just out of curiosity, you don't allow pets. Am I right?"
She seemed confused and looked at Mr. Kadam, but shook her head no.
"Great. Just checking." I smiled back at her. Mr. Kadam titled his head in puzzlement but said nothing.
He must think I'm off my rocker. I grinned and followed him to the elevator. — Colleen Houck

I could feel the warmth of his presence as if a soft blanket had been wrapped around my soul, around my heart. It held me and protected me. It sheltered me and I knew I wasn't alone anymore. — Colleen Houck

One heartbeat passed and then another, and the moment felt hot and frozen at the same time. Then he smiled, and it was sunshine and heat and unspoken promises wrapped in a single expression. — Colleen Houck

A desert lily need not turn jealous eyes toward the common violet. — Colleen Houck

Was it too much to ask you to wait for me? To believe in me? Don't you know how much I love you? — Colleen Houck

I picked up the statue and looked at it from different angles. The eight arms were fearsome. Note to self: in a battle against Durga, run the other direction. — Colleen Houck

I find that all people are fundamentally alike. We are one human family. Perhaps we have different clothes, our skin is of a different color, or we speak various languages, but that is on the surface only. We all have dreams and seek for things that will bring true happiness. To know all the world, I just need to learn about myself. — Colleen Houck

Are you okay?"
I waved my hand at him dismissively. He crouched down, touched my cheek, looked me up and down, and then smirked.
"That was a pygmy marmoset, by the way. Just in case you were wondering."
I wheezed. "Thank you, oh Walking Monkey Dictionary."
He laughed and got out bottled water for both of us, then handed me an energy bar.
"Aren't you going to eat one?"
He put a hand on his chest and scoffed. "What, me? Eat an energy bar when the jungle is full of delicious monkeys? No thanks. I'm not hungry."
I nibbled my energy bar in silence and checked the Golden Fruit to make sure it wasn't bruised. It was still safely wrapped up in my quilt.
Between bites, I said, "You know, all in all, we made it out of the city fairly unscathed."
His mouth fell open. "Unscathed? Kelsey, I have monkey bites all over my back and in other places that I don't even want to think about!"
"I said fairly."
He grunted at me. — Colleen Houck

Later that sweltering evening, I climbed into my tiny tent and lay down on top of my bedroll, twisting the lighter blanket around me mummy-style.
Ren ducked his head in to check on me and laughed. "Do you always do that?"
"Only when camping."
"You know bugs can still get in there."
"Don't say that. I like to live in ignorance. — Colleen Houck

You died in your sleep? Drunk driver? Cancer,huh? World war? Well ... yeah those deaths are great and all,but wait till I tell you what happened to me. Yeah ... that's right ... I said kraken. — Colleen Houck

Saying his name stabbed my heart, like someone had ripped through my carefully stitched up world and exposed the infected, pulsing red tissue that I thought was healing. — Colleen Houck

He sighed and bowed deeply. Sundari. I was standing here thinking nothing could be more beautiful than this sunset tonight, but I was mistaken. You standing here in the setting sun with your hair and skin aglow is almost more than a man can ... fully appreciate. — Colleen Houck

There is still a piece of my heart that belongs to you. I have cherished it all these centuries. — Colleen Houck

The fact is ... I'm in love with you, and I have been for some time. — Colleen Houck

Amon murmured against my neck, You taste like melted desert honey. — Colleen Houck

The very purpose of life is to be happy. As we care for others, the greater is our own senses of well-being. It puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacle we encounter. Remember that old saying " love will conquer all " is true. As you give love, you will find it returns to you magnified. — Colleen Houck

He studied my appearance carefully. "You cut your hair." "Yes. Do you like it?" "That depends. How long is it?" I pulled a curl down and showed him it ended just past my shoulder. He grunted, "That's still long enough, so I like it." "Long enough for what?" "Long enough for a man to run his hands through. — Colleen Houck

Well, first of all, you can't expect me to have coherent thoughts when you're touching me. Second, you're too ... good-looking. Good-looking people usually get what they want. — Colleen Houck

That light. It's more powerful than she can make alone. He acts like ... well, like a filament. She pours her energy into him, and he heats it. Then he sends it back to her just like a light bulb. They create a kind of vacuum between them; that is the connection I am referring to. It's very special and rarely seen. When they're touching, nothing else exists outside the two of them. All they are aware of is each other. — Colleen Houck

(She) whispered, "There is no escape from death." "No, there isn't," I admitted, "but there is still life. — Colleen Houck

Truth is I'm in love with you Kelsey, and I have been for some time. — Colleen Houck

I don't want you to see only a tiger when you look at me. I want you to see me. The man. — Colleen Houck

I felt overwhelmed. I didn't expect a first kiss to be so ... life altering. In a few brief moments, the rule book of my universe had been rewritten. Suddenly I was a brand new person. I was as fragile as a newborn, but instead of the doctor placing me in my mother's arms, he'd put me in Ren's. What would Ren do with me? Would he draw me near, soothe me, and teach me about this new world or would he reject me and tell the doctor there must be some mistake. There was no way to know. What a breakable and delicate thing a heart was, no wonder I'd kept mine locked away. — Colleen Houck

Perhaps if you'd been willing to experience love and had had a few years of happiness, you might have amounted to something. As it is, your life is rather pathetic. What a waste. — Colleen Houck

I mean, realistically, what was I expecting here? A sarcophagus built for two? — Colleen Houck

After the meal was done, the brothers moved slowly, as if drugged or sleepy, which made me wonder if it was similar to the post-turkey feeling on Thanksgiving Day. — Colleen Houck

I warn you, Kelsey, that I'm an extremely patient man. I've had extensive practice in waiting out the enemy. My life as a tiger has taught me that attentive persistence and focused diligence always pay off. Consider yourself forewarned, priyatama. I'm on the hunt. I've caught your scent, and I won't be thwarted in my course. — Colleen Houck

Don't forget, Lily, the sun always leads to life. To see the sunrise is to embrace life. The sunset is where you will find death. — Colleen Houck

He looks like a runway model. How in the world am I going to be able to reject that? The world is so unfair. Seriously, it's like turning Brad Pitt down for a date. The girl who could actually do it should win an award for idiot of the century. — Colleen Houck

Well, maybe we should stand watch. Just in case."
The corner of his mouth quirked up as he took another bite of his dinner. "Okay, who gets the first watch?"
"I do."
His eyes twinkled with mirth. "Ah, a brave volunteer?"
I glared at him and took another bite. "Are you making fun of me?"
He threw a hand over his heart, "No, ma'am! I already know you're brave. You have nothing to prove to me. — Colleen Houck

Destiny chose me to befriend him, to save him, to love him. — Colleen Houck

Don't make a feller wait too long. A feller waiting on a gal can get ornery'er than a huntin' dog that's tree'd it's squirrel. — Colleen Houck

You look about as trapped as a piglet at a baby back ribs cookoff. — Colleen Houck

Don't do that again, he growled in my mind.
Smiling, I thought. You have to admit it was cool.
Cool? You are a devastatingly beautiful angel of death. If death came for me and it looked like you, I'd go willingly. — Colleen Houck

I feel ... and I have reason to believe ... that we could come to mean something to each other. — Colleen Houck

No one can understand what you've been through more than Kishan and Mr. Kadam. I think the best thing you can do to repay him is to give him that level of loyalty in return. He considers you and Kishan sons and the best way a son can honor his father is to be the kind of man that would make him proud. — Colleen Houck

I decided to find you, throw myself at your feet, and beg you to have mercy on me. Honestly, I'll accept whatever you choose, Kelsey. Just don't ask me to live apart from you again. Because ... I can't. — Colleen Houck

Your heart knows. Your soul remembers. — Colleen Houck

You didn't think I'd let you go alone, did you?"
"No, but I'm grateful that I had you with me."
"Grateful is all I'm going to get, isn't it?"
"What else were you hoping for?"
"Adoration, devotion, affection, infatuation, or just plain finding me irresistible."
"Sorry, Don Juan. You'll have to live with my undying gratitude. — Colleen Houck

The dangerous one was Ren. Innocent though the white tiger he appeared to be, he was a compelling predator. Utterly irresistible
like a Venus flytrap. So alluring, so tempting, so deadly. Everything he did was seductive and possibly hazardous to my health. — Colleen Houck

You think I wanted to fall for you? I stayed away from you! I gave him the chance to be with you! But there's another part of me that asks what if? What if you're not supposed to be with Ren? What if you were supposed to be the answer to my prayers? Not his! — Colleen Houck

The charitable thing to do would be to make myself as homely looking as possible, which would probably make it much easier on him, but I didn't want his parting memories of me to be that I was a frumpy mess dressed in tomboy clothes.
I do have some feminine pride after all. I still want him to squirm. At least a little. — Colleen Houck

One's enemy is often the best teacher of tolerance. — Colleen Houck

Ren took off his jacket, which slicited a squeak from Jennifer who was now totally focused on Ren's golden-bronze biceps. His perfectly fitted muscle shirt showed off his extremely well-developed arms and chest.
I hissed at him quietly, For heaven's sake, Ren! You're going to give the women heart palpitations! — Colleen Houck

Um ... perhaps I will go with Grandfather, Nilima said. She set down the scissors, looked at my expression, and then changed her mind and took them with her. — Colleen Houck

If anyone can overcome a fear for the ocean, you can, little lady. Courage is being scared to death and saddlin' up anyway. — Colleen Houck

I smirked at Ren before answering. "Yes. I dreamed I fed Ren to the kraken."
Tigers Voyage
Pg. 405 — Colleen Houck

Good-bye bilauta — Colleen Houck

Wow Kelsey!" Kishan whistled. "I'm going to have to beat the other guys of with a stick! — Colleen Houck

Pulling the chair out for me, he invited me to sit.
I stood there wondering if I could sprint for the nearest exit. Stupid strappy shoes, I'd never make it.
He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "I know what you're thinking, and I'm not going to let you escape again. You can either take a seat and have dinner with me like a normal date," he grinned at his word choice, "or," he paused thoughtfully then threatened, "you can sit on my lap while I force-feed you. — Colleen Houck

The truth is, if I could bottle your water-lily scent and carry it with me as I wandered the desert, even if I was sick from the sun and dying from thirst, only to be saved by a desert sheikh who wished to barter for it, and even should the trading of it save my life, I would not part with it for all the jewels, silks, and precious riches of Egypt and all the lands surrounding it. So to say your scent is pleasant to me is an understatement most villainous. — Colleen Houck

Is it really you this time, Kells?"
"Well, I'm no maggoty corpse, if that's what you mean."
He grinned. "That's a relief. No maggoty corpse would be that sarcastic. — Colleen Houck

He was as beautiful a man as her was a tiger. — Colleen Houck

I don't understand how I could have believed you were a warm, affectionate, and tenderhearted person! You're obviously as prickly as a porcupine and any man who comes close to you will end up with a face full of quills! — Colleen Houck

I wanted to tell Ren the truth. I wanted to say that he was the best friend I'd ever had. That I was sorry about the way I had treated him. I wanted to tell him ... that I loved him. But I couldn't say anything. My throat was closed up, probably swollen from snake venom. All I could do was look at him as he knelt over me.
That's okay. Looking at his gorgeous face one last time is enough for me. I'll die a happy woman.
I was so tired. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open. I closed my eyes and waited for death to come. Ren cleared a space and sat down near me. Pillowing my head on his arm, he pulled me onto his lap and into his arms. I smiled.
Even better. I can't open my eyes to see him anymore, but I can feel his arms around me. My warrior angel can carry me in his arms up to heaven.
He squeezed my closer to his body and whispered something in my ear that I couldn't make out. Then darkness overtook me. — Colleen Houck

Good intentions are not sufficient to creat a positive outcome; you must act. As you take part and become actively engaged, answers to your questions will appear. Lastly, like a great rock is not disturbed by the buffetings of the wind, the mind of a judicious man is steady. He exists as a stanchion, a stalwart support. Others can cling to him, for he will not falter. — Colleen Houck

Home they brought her warrior dead: She nor swooned, nor uttered cry: All her maidens, watching, said, 'She must weep or she will die.' Then they praised him, soft and low, Called him worthy to be loved, Truest friend and noblest foe; Yet she neither spoke nor moved. Stole a maiden from her place, Lightly to the warrior stepped, Took the face-cloth from the face; Yet she neither moved nor wept. Rose a nurse of ninety years, Set his child upon her knee- Like summer tempest came her tears- 'Sweet my child, I live for thee.' -Alfred Lord Tennyson — Colleen Houck

Ren grinned. "So ... you and lady tigers, eh? Is there something you want share, Kishan?"
Kishan shoved a forkful of dinner into his mouth and mumbled, "How about I share my fist with your face?"
"Wow. Sensitive, I'm sure your lady tiger friends were all very attractive. So am I an uncle? — Colleen Houck

I'll be fine. Maybe I should make up a magic milk bath with the Golden Fruit, huh?" I laughed.
Kishan considered and grinned. "A giant bowlful of milk with you in the middle might be a little too much for us cats to resist. — Colleen Houck

Now turn around and go to sleep. I'm warning you that I plan to sleep with you in my arms all night long. — Colleen Houck

The house was quiet. Silently, I walked down the stairs and passed the peacock room where I found Mr. Kadam sitting and waiting for me. He took my bag and walked with me out to the car, then he opened my door, and I slid in to the seat and buckled my seatbelt. Starting the car, he circled the stone driveway slowly. I turned to take one last look at the beautiful place that felt like home. As we started down the tree-lined road, I watched the house until the trees blocked my view.
Just then, a deafening, heartrending roar shook the trees. I turned in my seat and faced the desolate road ahead. — Colleen Houck

All things considered, I'd rather have monkeys," Kishan shouted.
I shivered. "Tell you what. We'll rent King Kong and The Birds. Then you can decide."
He yelled as he ran from a swooping bird, "Are you asking me on a date? Because if you are, it will definitely give me more incentive to come out of this alive."
"Whatever works"
"You're on. — Colleen Houck

You are my mere jaan, my life, Kelsey Hayes. — Colleen Houck

If I was a braver man, I'd leave things the way they are, but I can't. You asked me why I'm a coward because I refuse to be without you. I cannot fathom any kind of a happy existence if you're not in it. — Colleen Houck

My mind kept screaming, Not possible! Not possible! How did I get trapped in this bizarre situation? Oh, yeah. I volunteered. — Colleen Houck

Perhaps you three could continue this conversation when the ship is not under attack? Mr.Kadam said. — Colleen Houck

I was immediately aware of her when she stood at the window but I didn't move at first. I wanted to look at her with my human eyes.#Ren — Colleen Houck

A hot shower is going to feel heavenly."
He raised an eyebrow. "Would you like to go first."
"No, you go ahead."
His eyes twinkled as he regarded me, "It would be more heavenly if you told me you wanted to conserve water."
My mouth opened in shock. "Kishan!"
He winked at me. "I didn't think so. Can't blame a guy for trying. — Colleen Houck

How could I remain unyielding? His words penetrated the flimsy barriers I'd set up around my heart. I'd meant to set up a barbed wire fence, but the barbs ended up being covered with marshmallows. He slipped through my defenses easily. He touched his forehead to my hand, and my marshmallow heart melted. — Colleen Houck

You are my home, Kelsey. Wherever you are is where I belong. — Colleen Houck

It dishonors the deaths of our loved ones to shut out happiness. We throw away what we could have been and waste our opportunities. We each have a purpose, a destiny, and to realize it, we must reach beyond what we think we are capable of ... A wise woman once told me that I needed to learn the lesson of the lotus flower: All of our human experience, both the good and the bad, grounds us like the sludge in a river. We may be rooted in pain or suffering but our job is to rise above it, find the sun, and bloom. Only then can you brighten the world for others. — Colleen Houck

Okay. So, apparently I find burly Indian men attractive. What's wrong with that? — Colleen Houck

There are many dangerous serpents in India-the cobra, the boa, the python, water snakes, vipers, king cobras, and even some that fly."
That didn't sound good at all. "What do you mean fly?"
"Well, technically, they don't really fly. They just glide to other trees, like the flying squirrel."
I sank lower in my seat and frowned. "What an exceptional variety of poisonous reptiles you have here. — Colleen Houck

Softly, Kishan said, And it seems that the only girls I'm ever interested in ... always belong to Ren. — Colleen Houck

What could I say to make this beautiful girl know how desperately I needed her? Practiced words fled my mind & I shamelessly begged.#Ren — Colleen Houck

Reality crashed into my brain: I'd never see my black tiger again.
P. 420, Kelsey — Colleen Houck

He laughed. "Kelsey, we all have some animalistic tendencies. I loved hunting, even when I was young."
I shuddered. "Fine. Just keep your animalistic tendencies to yourself."
He leaned toward me again and pulled on a strand of my hair. "Now, Kells, there are some of my animalistic tendencies that you seem to like." He started making a rumbling sound in his chest, and I realized that he was purring.
"Stop that!" I sputtered — Colleen Houck

He shut the door softly behind him, and I threw a pillow at it just to prove a point. I stewed for an hour until I was finally able to drift off again, this time with a smile on my face as I imagined using the Scarf to dangle Ren in front of the kraken, but then in my dream I became the kraken and wrapped my tentacles around him, pulled him into my eternal purple embrace, and stole away with him to a murky cavern in the depths of the ocean.
Tigers Voyage (Book 3)
Pg. 404 — Colleen Houck

Making a mistake isn't bad; what's bad is refusing to learn from it so you don't repeat it. — Colleen Houck

I sucked a huge breath of air into my collapsed lungs. Once I could breathe again, I examined Ren's back. His white shirt was dirty and torn, and his skin was scratched and bleeding in several places. I took a wet shirt from the bag to clean his scratches, while removing little pieces of gravel embedded in his skin.
When I was finished, I grabbed Ren around the waist in a fierce hug. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I whispered against his chest quietly but firmly, "Thank you. But don't ever ... ever ... ever do that again!"
He laughed. "If I get results like this, I surely will do it again."
"You will not!"
Ren reluctantly let me go, and I began mumbling, complaining about tigers, men, and bugs. He seemed very pleased with himself for surviving a near-death experience. I could practically hear him chanting to himself: I overcame. I conquered. I'm a man, etc, etc. I smirked. men! No matter what century they're from, they're all the same. — Colleen Houck

A quiet but indomitable voice behind me said, "I believe this is my dance." It was him. I could feel his presence. The warmth of him seeped into my back, and I quivered all over like spring leaves in a warm breeze. — Colleen Houck

You could probably use stitches on that one." Addressing both tigers, I scolded softly, "You two will probably get an infection and your tails will fall off. — Colleen Houck

A poet can always find something good to write about. — Colleen Houck

Bad things sometimes happen to good people; the key to happiness is try to make the best of, and be thankful for the hand we're dealt — Colleen Houck

Oregon almost never got too hot. An Oregon governor must have passed a law a long, long time ago that said Oregon had to always have moderate temperatures. — Colleen Houck

So you do have some claws after all!' (Wyea)
'You have no idea,' Ren responded and charged. — Colleen Houck