“The only thing remaining was to hang Arina in the Louvre like the Mona Lisa and forget that she was alive.”

“He studied her tastes and reactions – in food, sex, or music – as if he were drawing a map of the continent that he had just discovered.”

“Looking at him felt like a torment. Her heart was beating faster with every second, trying to jump out of her chest. Fear and desire, before unknown, were coming over her like strong, powerful waves, breaking somewhere below her waist.”

“Arina had no idea what she wanted except that she wanted to be with him.”

“He was sure: no one had ever caused her to feel that before. It felt like playing with fire.”

“You ran away from me and I’m not used to people running away from me.”

“He wanted Arina This thought filled her body with happiness. She was crazy!”

“When you were dealing with a person separated from everybody by an invisible thick glass wall – like a bubble where he didn’t let anybody in – every little thing mattered.”

“He didn’t like personal questions. But, to be fair, he never really asked them either.”

“Arina still remembered his hands holding her tight, not letting her escape.”

“They say time heals. They also say that time and work heal three times faster.”

“Is it scary to feel that you are absolutely powerless?”

“You sound as if happiness and pleasure were not the same.”

“Two months and then he’ll find another toy? Nellie was right. What is going to happen to me after?”