--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Water,” he said, licking his lips. She…" description: "\"“Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”\" — Hugh Howey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png" --- # Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his… ![“Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” quote by Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png) > ““Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”” [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) ## 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’s simple, sensory detail hints at anticipation and a brief departure, adding tension to the scene. **In simple terms:** A small gesture signals a pending return. Key Takeaway Notice subtle cues that foreshadow action. Themes suspense character interaction anticipation dialogue Mood dramatic intimate Type literary cinematic When to use this quote - short story writing - film script - role‑playing games Key Concepts narrative tension foreshadowing human connection Questions to Reflect On - What does this moment reveal about the characters? - How does anticipation affect reader engagement? A Different Perspective Overuse of such cues can feel contrived. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Oh you two look delicious," Bast said, licking her lips. "No, no-er, I mean wonderful. Now, off you go!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-you-two-look-delicious-bast-said-licking-her-lips-no-no-er-i-mean/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“As I grabbed my cocoa, chocolate ran down my hand. "This makes me feel like a five-year-old," I said, licking it off. "If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindi-scott/as-i-grabbed-my-cocoa-chocolate-ran-down-my-hand-this-makes-me-feel/) [Mindi Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindi-scott/) > [“Jackie patted her on the shoulder, "you know what you need?" Ash peeked out from between her fingers."Eight hours of rest before tomorrows exam?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karsten-knight/jackie-patted-her-on-the-shoulder-you-know-what-you-need-ash-peeked/) [Karsten Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karsten-knight/) > [“Keep close," he said. "It only gets more dangerous from here." I patted his shoulder. "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-allison-moulton/keep-close-he-said-it-only-gets-more-dangerous-from-here-i-patted-his/) [Courtney Allison Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-allison-moulton/) > [“It’s no problem.” Marco shrugged. “You’re family.” Her eyes bugged out at me and she whispered comically, “I’m family.” I patted her shoulder. “They’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/it-s-no-problem-marco-shrugged-you-re-family-her-eyes-bugged-out-at/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [Piper patted his shoulder. “Trust me, Valdez. Beautiful people never lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/piper-patted-his-shoulder-trust-me-valdez-beautiful-people-never-lie/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Take them off," I order and without hesitation she removes them and drops them on the floor. She lifts her cami so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-dominguez/take-them-off-i-order-and-without-hesitation-she-removes-them-and/) [Ella Dominguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-dominguez/) > [“He opened his eyes to see her licking her lips nervously. "I... er... We should remove your banyan. At least the upper portion." If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/he-opened-his-eyes-to-see-her-licking-her-lips-nervously-i-er-we/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [We saw a fair bit of video on them towards the back end of the week and we were licking our lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-morris/we-saw-a-fair-bit-of-video-on-them-towards-the-back-end-of-the-week/) Brett Morris > [“Babe, you’re staring at my cock like it’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and licking your lips, but you’re not doing anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-lane/babe-you-re-staring-at-my-cock-like-it-s-your-favorite-flavor-of-ice/) [Jessie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-lane/) > [“I don’t like him either,” she said without thinking, licking her lips as she focused solely on Holden. “We’re both with people we don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-regnery/i-don-t-like-him-either-she-said-without-thinking-licking-her-lips-as/) [Katy Regnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-regnery/) > [“He shifted in his seat and leaned forward to get a good look at Evie from around me. There was this thing he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-jonas/he-shifted-in-his-seat-and-leaned-forward-to-get-a-good-look-at-evie/) [Rachel Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-jonas/) > [What a joy to know where one is, and where one will stay, without being there. Nothing to do but stretch out comfortably on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/what-a-joy-to-know-where-one-is-and-where-one-will-stay-without-being/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“And I’m sorry,” he went on, licking his lips, still gazing at me seductively, “if I didn’t tell you about me and Rebecca. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/and-i-m-sorry-he-went-on-licking-his-lips-still-gazing-at-me/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“Once, on a walk by a river- Eskdale in low reddish sunlight, with a dusting of snow- his daughter quoted to him an opening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/once-on-a-walk-by-a-river-eskdale-in-low-reddish-sunlight-with-a/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by Hugh Howey > [“the mind-numbing routine. It was the castration of thought,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-mind-numbing-routine-it-was-the-castration-of-thought/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Even in the darkness, his smile threw shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/even-in-the-darkness-his-smile-threw-shadows/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“The Loud came before the quiet. That was a Rule of the World, for the bangs and shouts need somewhere to echo, just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/the-loud-came-before-the-quiet-that-was-a-rule-of-the-world-for-the/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“People from IT sent to replace those they’d killed. Juliette’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/people-from-it-sent-to-replace-those-they-d-killed-juliette-s/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“a heap of words designed to hinder communication rather than facilitate it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-heap-of-words-designed-to-hinder-communication-rather-than/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“That leaves Bravo Company, the expendables who know what they’re doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/that-leaves-bravo-company-the-expendables-who-know-what-they-re-doing/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Sleep was a vehicle for passing the time, for avoiding the present. It was a trolley for the depressed, the impatient, and the dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/sleep-was-a-vehicle-for-passing-the-time-for-avoiding-the-present-it/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Overhead, tangles of wires knotted together in a grand display of unplanned infrastructure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/overhead-tangles-of-wires-knotted-together-in-a-grand-display-of/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“Montana wants to scream, but the thing she is angry at is in the past. The past can’t hear her. This is the thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/montana-wants-to-scream-but-the-thing-she-is-angry-at-is-in-the-past/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“I guess what I'm sayin' is, if you want to give Jules a job, be very careful.” “Why be careful?” Marnes asked. Marck gazed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/i-guess-what-i-m-sayin-is-if-you-want-to-give-jules-a-job-be-very/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [One of the many things that surprised me about 'Wool' is how many of its fans don't consider themselves science fiction readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/one-of-the-many-things-that-surprised-me-about-wool-is-how-many-of/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“We have allowed a dangerous forest to grow as we try to guard against individual trees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/we-have-allowed-a-dangerous-forest-to-grow-as-we-try-to-guard-against/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“You’re . . . a rock,” I tell the rock. “The fuck I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/you-re-a-rock-i-tell-the-rock-the-fuck-i-am/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [“I hated Sundays as a kid. From the moment I woke up, I could feel Monday looming,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/i-hated-sundays-as-a-kid-from-the-moment-i-woke-up-i-could-feel/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) [Explore all 351 Hugh Howey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hugh Howey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patted-his-shoulder-i-ll-be-right/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patted-his-shoulder-i-ll-be-right/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b11/hugh-howey-841_gaze_water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patte_1188723.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Water,” he said, licking his lips. She patted his shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” — Hugh Howey", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hugh Howey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Water,” he said, licking his lips....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patted-his-shoulder-i-ll-be-right/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/water-he-said-licking-his-lips-she-patted-his-shoulder-i-ll-be-right/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```