--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A muffled voice startled them both. \"When…" description: "\"“A muffled voice startled them both. \"When are you going to kiss her?\" They pulled away. In the ballroom windows, noses and hands pressed against the g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/heather-dixon-8872_romance_a-muffled-voice-startled-them-both-when_1349456.jpg" --- # A muffled voice startled them both. "When are you going to… ![“A muffled voice startled them both. "When are you going to kiss her?" They pulled away. In the ballroom windows, noses and hands pressed against the glass, were the girls. They stood among the prickly rosebushes, beaming wicked little grins. Delphinium and Eve whispered and giggled to each other…” quote by Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/heather-dixon-8872_romance_a-muffled-voice-startled-them-both-when_1349456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/heather-dixon-8872_romance_a-muffled-voice-startled-them-both-when_1349456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/heather-dixon-8872_romance_a-muffled-voice-startled-them-both-when_1349456.jpg) > ““A muffled voice startled them both. "When are you going to kiss her?" They pulled away. In the ballroom windows, noses and hands pressed against the glass, were the girls. They stood among the prickly rosebushes, beaming wicked little grins. Delphinium and Eve whispered and giggled to each other; Bramble wore a magnificent grin on her face and a spark of light in her yellow-green eyes. Another figure stood among them. This one had his arms folded across his chest, stiff and firm and formal... ...Yet he did not look displeased.”” [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shows a tense, flirtatious scene where social norms clash with youthful desire, highlighting restraint versus longing. **In simple terms:** Youthful desire meets social restraint. Key Takeaway Balance desire with respect. Themes romance social norms desire Mood playful thoughtful Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - dating - social events - personal growth Key Concepts flirtation boundary setting youthful rebellion Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries are healthy in flirtation? - How do you express desire responsibly? A Different Perspective May romanticize passive waiting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delphinium Eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delphinium-eve-4583796/) [Eve Whispered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eve-whispered-3046470/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Girls Stood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girls-stood-1405990/) [Green Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-eye/) [Grins Delphinium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grins-delphinium-4583795/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Stood Prickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stood-prickly-4583797/) ## Related quotes > [I don’t see a way in,” Eve whispered. Why are you whispering?” Myrnin whispered back. “Vampires can hear us, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-don-t-see-a-way-in-eve-whispered-why-are-you-whispering-myrnin/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [So God made girls... God made girls... He stood back and told the boys, I'm 'bout to rock your world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raelynn/so-god-made-girls-god-made-girls-he-stood-back-and-told-the-boys-i-m/) [RaeLynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raelynn/) > [“ We still have your watch.You can have it back tonight.All you need to do is sneak up after dinner, set the tower, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/we-still-have-your-watch-you-can-have-it-back-tonight-all-you-need-to/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Before anything," he said as he brought her around to face him, "I want to give you this." Fumbling in his suitcoat, he produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/before-anything-he-said-as-he-brought-her-around-to-face-him-i-want/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Burnett let out a low growl and motioned for the agent to leave. Then he glanced back at Miranda. "How were you able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-c-hunter/burnett-let-out-a-low-growl-and-motioned-for-the-agent-to-leave-then/) [C.C. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-c-hunter/) > [“Livia used her mouth to warm any part of his body that felt cold. As she sucked his fingers, she heard a decision in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/livia-used-her-mouth-to-warm-any-part-of-his-body-that-felt-cold-as/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [Her underwear, her jeans, the comforter, my corduroys and my boxers between us, I thought. Five layers, and yet I felt it, the nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/her-underwear-her-jeans-the-comforter-my-corduroys-and-my-boxers/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I knew looking into those soulful green eyes that she was stronger than I'd ever been. She'd pulled herself together after I'd torn her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/i-knew-looking-into-those-soulful-green-eyes-that-she-was-stronger/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) > [“I gazed into her beautiful green eyes and her fear melted. A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. Fuck me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/i-gazed-into-her-beautiful-green-eyes-and-her-fear-melted-a-shy-smile/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [“The old man stared at me with his bright green eyes. “You’re Gin Blanco, Genevieve Snow, and the Spider all rolled into one. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/the-old-man-stared-at-me-with-his-bright-green-eyes-you-re-gin-blanco/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“Then someone else appeared from the crowd, and Annabeth's vision tunneled. Percy smiled at her-that sarcastic, troublemaker's smile that had annoyed her for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/then-someone-else-appeared-from-the-crowd-and-annabeth-s-vision/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/) [Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/) > [“Sydney Katherine Sage,” he said, his green eyes full of love and earnestness. “Would you do a brooding, deadbeat Moroi the honor of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/sydney-katherine-sage-he-said-his-green-eyes-full-of-love-and/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“She was every bit of everything he remembered about her, all at once and all at the same time. That was Kerry McCrae in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/she-was-every-bit-of-everything-he-remembered-about-her-all-at-once/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) ## More by Heather Dixon > [“The simultaneous scream sounded from teh twins. Borth clasped their hands over their mouths, their eyes wide with horror. Azalea followed their gaze. There,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/the-simultaneous-scream-sounded-from-teh-twins-borth-clasped-their/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“I will tell you about the lady I loved." The girls settled together on the entrance steps, not even breathing, for fear it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/i-will-tell-you-about-the-lady-i-loved-the-girls-settled-together-on/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Try it alone now," he said. "I taught you when you were six. You were a fine little rider then. Do you remember?" "No!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/try-it-alone-now-he-said-i-taught-you-when-you-were-six-you-were-a/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Royal Business; Strictly For The Young Gentleman Who Meets the Criteria- A Riddle To Solve: Where the Twelve Princesses of Eathesbury Dance At Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/royal-business-strictly-for-the-young-gentleman-who-meets-the/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“It had ended with a battle; Azalea raked the front page, and then the one's after, searching for any familiar names among the wounded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/it-had-ended-with-a-battle-azalea-raked-the-front-page-and-then-the/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Honestly, we don't kick or bite or throw potatoes at all our guests." A crooked smile touched Lord Bradford's lips. "Your family has spirit,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/honestly-we-don-t-kick-or-bite-or-throw-potatoes-at-all-our-guests-a/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“What a rotten shilling punter!" said Bramble, tearing her bread to bits. "I can't believe he stole our things! Especially the watch! We stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/what-a-rotten-shilling-punter-said-bramble-tearing-her-bread-to-bits/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Then to everyone's shock, she pressed her lips full on his. "Oh...my," said Clover. No one seemed more surprised than Lord Teddie, who stumbled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/then-to-everyone-s-shock-she-pressed-her-lips-full-on-his-oh-my-said/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“So suppose Azalea finds the sugar teeth after all," said Bramble, taking Azalea by the shoulders and spinning her. Azalea rolled her eyes but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/so-suppose-azalea-finds-the-sugar-teeth-after-all-said-bramble-taking/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Inside her chest, a warm, billowing, something swept through her, to the tips of her fingers, the bottoms of her feet, shining like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/inside-her-chest-a-warm-billowing-something-swept-through-her-to-the/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Before anything," he said as he brought her around to face him, "I want to give you this." Fumbling in his suitcoat, he produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/before-anything-he-said-as-he-brought-her-around-to-face-him-i-want/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“I'm so sorry we've kept this for such a long time," she said, pulling the watch from her skirt pocket. She unfolded Mother's handkerchief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/i-m-so-sorry-we-ve-kept-this-for-such-a-long-time-she-said-pulling/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Ah, Azalea," said the King. "He's not going to be the one proposing." The springs in Azalea's feet went poioioing . "Sorry?" she said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/ah-azalea-said-the-king-he-s-not-going-to-be-the-one-proposing-the/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“Five minutes later, the girls stood at the open kitchen door, blinking in the brilliant overcast light. The smell of lilacs, roses, sweet peas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/five-minutes-later-the-girls-stood-at-the-open-kitchen-door-blinking/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) > [“You cannot dance up there," he said, quietly. "I can see you are in mourning. But you are welcome to dance here, among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-dixon/you-cannot-dance-up-there-he-said-quietly-i-can-see-you-are-in/) [Heather Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) [Explore all 77 Heather Dixon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-dixon/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A muffled voice startled them both. \"When are you going to kiss her?\" They pulled away. In the ballroom windows, noses and hands pressed against the glass, were the girls. 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