cimorene

i was cleaning the couch and came across one of those novels with the corner cut off that my mom buys used by the bagful for ten cents apiece, her personal equivalent of slash (only, of course, slash is generally much better). here's a selection from the end of the sheikh's bride.

'love me.'

his arms closed around her, hard as iron. 'always.'

'take me home, amer.' her voice was a thread of pure desire. ... 'it seems too much. i can't believe it. hold me, my love. make me believe it.'

'believe what?' he said, his voice husky with desire. 'that i adore you? that when i am away from you, i can barely wait to return to you? that when i return, all i want is you in my arms?'

leo was trembling. 'that i am the sheikh's bride, after all.'

he picked her up and carried her to bed.

and in the end, dazed with delight, humbled by love and completely overthrown by tender laughter, she said, 'i believe it. oh boy, do i believe.'

the funny thing is that i've read slash that was that bad, but just not very often. and what's with cutting out the sex scene, for heaven's sake? it's not like these books have anything other than sex to recommend them anyway.