--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He pulled away abruptly…" description: "\"“He pulled away abruptly - self-preservation required it - and pressed his brow to hers, breathing deep. \"You remember one thing. You decide you want t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/christine-feehan-615_blackmail_he-pulled-away-abruptly-self-preservatio_797495.png" --- # He pulled away abruptly - self-preservation required it… ![“He pulled away abruptly - self-preservation required it - and pressed his brow to hers, breathing deep. "You remember one thing. You decide you want to get married, it's going to be me." Briony watched him stalk outside, slamming the kitchen door behind him. Both eyebrows raised, she turned to…” quote by Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/christine-feehan-615_blackmail_he-pulled-away-abruptly-self-preservatio_797495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/christine-feehan-615_blackmail_he-pulled-away-abruptly-self-preservatio_797495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d13/christine-feehan-615_blackmail_he-pulled-away-abruptly-self-preservatio_797495.png) > ““He pulled away abruptly - self-preservation required it - and pressed his brow to hers, breathing deep. "You remember one thing. You decide you want to get married, it's going to be me." Briony watched him stalk outside, slamming the kitchen door behind him. Both eyebrows raised, she turned to Ken. Close your mouth, honey. That's just Jack trying to be romantic and failing miserably. Don't let him get away with that shit either. If he's going to ask you, make him do it all they way. You know - down on one knee, looking stupid." Briony nearly choked. "That's just mean, Ken." He leaned close to her. "If you do it, Briony, tell me first so I can videotape it. I could blackmail him for the rest of his life.”” [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character uses manipulation and blackmail to control a romantic decision, highlighting power dynamics in relationships. **In simple terms:** Manipulation used to force marriage. Key Takeaway Beware coercive control in love. Themes power manipulation relationships coercion Mood tense critical warning Type advice cautionary When to use this quote - dating - marriage proposals - relationship counseling - legal advice Key Concepts control blackmail romantic expectations Questions to Reflect On - How would you respond to manipulation in a relationship? - What boundaries protect healthy intimacy? A Different Perspective Coercion undermines genuine consent and can cause lasting trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blackmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackmail/) [Choked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choked/) [Choked Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choked-just-6112946/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Stupid Briony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-briony-6112945/) [Videotape Blackmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/videotape-blackmail-6112944/) ## Related quotes > [“I’m not a violent man.” Joshua, Jerico and Evan choked dramatically and began coughing. Remy snorted. “And if you believe that, Saria, I’ve got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-m-not-a-violent-man-joshua-jerico-and-evan-choked-dramatically-and/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Dahlia’s breath hissed out of her throat. Slowing the boat, she swung back toward him, glaring. “ What is so damned fascinating about breasts?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/dahlia-s-breath-hissed-out-of-her-throat-slowing-the-boat-she-swung/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“You belong with me, Azami. Your family will be my family. My family—the GhostWalkers—will be yours.” “You’re a very dangerous man, Sam Johnson,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-belong-with-me-azami-your-family-will-be-my-family-my-family-the/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“ You really know how to stir up the hornets’ nest with the women, do you not? Mikhail demanded, even though he understood Gregori…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-really-know-how-to-stir-up-the-hornets-nest-with-the-women-do-you/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Climb back up here. We’re going to have to jump.” She stated it so calmly he almost didn’t comprehend. His head snapped around. “Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/climb-back-up-here-we-re-going-to-have-to-jump-she-stated-it-so/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Her body clenched with hot desire, and without thinking she bathed Jacques’ mind in her heat. She saw his body hunch, as if someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/her-body-clenched-with-hot-desire-and-without-thinking-she-bathed/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He kissed her with everything he was. Man. Beast. Killer. Biker. Hers. Every cell in his body belonged to her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-kissed-her-with-everything-he-was-man-beast-killer-biker-hers/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Savannah came to him instantly, her face lit up with some emotion he dared not name.She was in a man's silk shirt and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/savannah-came-to-him-instantly-her-face-lit-up-with-some-emotion-he/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Even so, the two of us look memorable in these clothes. And your shirt is transparent. I don’t think I can take a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/even-so-the-two-of-us-look-memorable-in-these-clothes-and-your-shirt/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The bonds of friendship dwindle with age, Oliver. But a little blackmail lasts forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunt/the-bonds-of-friendship-dwindle-with-age-oliver-but-a-little/) [Stephen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunt/) > [“He is a brilliant man, said Miss Doggett. She helped him a good deal in his work, I think. Mrs. Bonner says that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/he-is-a-brilliant-man-said-miss-doggett-she-helped-him-a-good-deal-in/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/) [Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Either you want to try and blackmail me or you're hitting on me. Which is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-tushmore/either-you-want-to-try-and-blackmail-me-or-you-re-hitting-on-me-which/) [Melanie Tushmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-tushmore/) ## More by Christine Feehan > [“Even so, the two of us look memorable in these clothes. And your shirt is transparent. I don’t think I can take a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/even-so-the-two-of-us-look-memorable-in-these-clothes-and-your-shirt/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Sleep deeply, the sleep of our people, chosen one of my sister,that you will heal completely and wake refreshed and in full strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/sleep-deeply-the-sleep-of-our-people-chosen-one-of-my-sister-that-you/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Savannah came to him instantly, her face lit up with some emotion he dared not name.She was in a man's silk shirt and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/savannah-came-to-him-instantly-her-face-lit-up-with-some-emotion-he/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [The real question is, can you love the real me? Not the perfect person you want me to be, not that image you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/the-real-question-is-can-you-love-the-real-me-not-the-perfect-person/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“At her tender age she was incapable of understanding such a history,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/at-her-tender-age-she-was-incapable-of-understanding-such-a-history/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [He felt safe with her. He'd never been safe with another human being, not since he'd been taken as a child from his home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-felt-safe-with-her-he-d-never-been-safe-with-another-human-being/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Before anything else, I need your trust. Your absolute trust in me--and yourself. You have to know you are the only woman I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/before-anything-else-i-need-your-trust-your-absolute-trust-in-me-and/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He kissed her with everything he was. Man. Beast. Killer. Biker. Hers. Every cell in his body belonged to her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-kissed-her-with-everything-he-was-man-beast-killer-biker-hers/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Her body clenched with hot desire, and without thinking she bathed Jacques’ mind in her heat. She saw his body hunch, as if someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/her-body-clenched-with-hot-desire-and-without-thinking-she-bathed/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Climb back up here. We’re going to have to jump.” She stated it so calmly he almost didn’t comprehend. His head snapped around. “Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/climb-back-up-here-we-re-going-to-have-to-jump-she-stated-it-so/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“ You really know how to stir up the hornets’ nest with the women, do you not? Mikhail demanded, even though he understood Gregori…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-really-know-how-to-stir-up-the-hornets-nest-with-the-women-do-you/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [Everyone knows ladies love Cajuns. It's in our blood and our language is the language of romance." "Your language is the language of bullshit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/everyone-knows-ladies-love-cajuns-it-s-in-our-blood-and-our-language/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“You belong with me, Azami. Your family will be my family. My family—the GhostWalkers—will be yours.” “You’re a very dangerous man, Sam Johnson,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/you-belong-with-me-azami-your-family-will-be-my-family-my-family-the/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“He was desperate for her to see inside, to look past all the layers of darkness and find that part of him she’d touched.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/he-was-desperate-for-her-to-see-inside-to-look-past-all-the-layers-of/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“The first ripple of unease hit him. He lifted his head for a moment, and his prey’s blood spurted out. He bent once more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/the-first-ripple-of-unease-hit-him-he-lifted-his-head-for-a-moment/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) [Explore all 443 Christine Feehan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) ## More Blackmail quotes > [“Either you want to try and blackmail me or you're hitting on me. Which is it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-tushmore/either-you-want-to-try-and-blackmail-me-or-you-re-hitting-on-me-which/) [Melanie Tushmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-tushmore/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“I’m afraid I don’t suffer petty bureaucrats gladly. A very bad habit, but one I find hard to break. Nevertheless, you will find, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/i-m-afraid-i-don-t-suffer-petty-bureaucrats-gladly-a-very-bad-habit/) [Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-preston-lincoln-child-2/) > [“He is a brilliant man, said Miss Doggett. She helped him a good deal in his work, I think. Mrs. Bonner says that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/he-is-a-brilliant-man-said-miss-doggett-she-helped-him-a-good-deal-in/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The bonds of friendship dwindle with age, Oliver. But a little blackmail lasts forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunt/the-bonds-of-friendship-dwindle-with-age-oliver-but-a-little/) [Stephen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunt/) > [“You don’t get to say it’s not a big thing. This is a big fucking thing, okay? This was supposed to be—this is mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/you-don-t-get-to-say-it-s-not-a-big-thing-this-is-a-big-fucking-thing/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [I'm constantly lying to my dog. He only responds to manipulation and blackmail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-keough/i-m-constantly-lying-to-my-dog-he-only-responds-to-manipulation-and/) [Riley Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-keough/) > [If the minority is able to successfully undo the Affordable Care Act by blackmail, it will be the undoing of the democratic nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrold-nadler/if-the-minority-is-able-to-successfully-undo-the-affordable-care-act/) [Jerrold Nadler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrold-nadler/) > [“Ah, shit. She’s been crying. This is not good. I swear to God, a girl crying is fucking blackmail. It just makes you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-mcclean/ah-shit-she-s-been-crying-this-is-not-good-i-swear-to-god-a-girl/) [J.C. McClean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-mcclean/) > [Neither the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina nor the international community will accept such blackmail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-petritsch/neither-the-citizens-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina-nor-the-international/) [Wolfgang Petritsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-petritsch/) > [Russia has shown it's not above the temptation of using some bargaining power or blackmail. It shows that if there is a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gros/russia-has-shown-it-s-not-above-the-temptation-of-using-some/) [Daniel Gros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gros/) > [You know, it's hard to say this, but I suspect that Obama is afraid either of blackmail potential or even worse. And he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-know-it-s-hard-to-say-this-but-i-suspect-that-obama-is-afraid/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [“When that bastard calls back, you tell him he’s won this round. I’ll marry him. But I don’t take well to being blackmailed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/when-that-bastard-calls-back-you-tell-him-he-s-won-this-round-i-ll/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [The police had a practice of entrapping people. This was done all over the country, but we had a particularly vicious group here in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hay/the-police-had-a-practice-of-entrapping-people-this-was-done-all-over/) [Harry Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hay/) [Browse all 157 Blackmail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackmail/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He pulled away abruptly - self-preservation required it - and pressed his brow to hers, breathing deep. \"You remember one thing. You decide you want to get married, it's going to be me.\" Briony watched him stalk outside, slamming the kitchen door behind him. Both eyebrows raised, she turned to Ken. Close your mouth, honey. That's just Jack trying to be romantic and failing miserably. Don't let him get away with that shit either. If he's going to ask you, make him do it all they way. You know - down on one knee, looking stupid.\" Briony nearly choked. \"That's just mean, Ken.\" He leaned close to her. \"If you do it, Briony, tell me first so I can videotape it. 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