---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It does. This is how it should have been…"
description: "\"“It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught my breath as he kissed my neck, teeth grating my skin. 'And I'll take back what's mine.”\" —..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg"
---

#  It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught…

![“It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught my breath as he kissed my neck, teeth grating my skin. 'And I'll take back what's mine.” quote by Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg)

> ““It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught my breath as he kissed my neck, teeth grating my skin. 'And I'll take back what's mine.””

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes a passionate, reclaiming moment after conflict

**In simple terms:** Reclaiming agency through intimacy

Key Takeaway

Take back what's yours

Themes

love conflict empowerment

Mood

intense dramatic

Type

narrative emotional

When to use this quote

- Romantic scenes
- character development
- conflict resolution
- self‑assertion

Key Concepts

Power dynamics emotional intensity personal agency

Questions to Reflect On

- How does intimacy affect power balance?
- When is reclaiming self appropriate?

A Different Perspective

Intensity may alienate readers

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Richelle-mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-mead/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/)

## Related quotes

> [“She took a deep breath. 'I kissed Mark.' 'Whoa,' said Emma, diverted. 'Whoa ho ho.' 'Did you just say 'whoa ho ho'?' 'I did,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-took-a-deep-breath-i-kissed-mark-whoa-said-emma-diverted-whoa-ho/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“No need to be embarassed. After seeing you in my cousin's nightgown, you've got nothing to hide. But why were you crying in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/no-need-to-be-embarassed-after-seeing-you-in-my-cousin-s-nightgown/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“Umm, Ren? We have something important we need to discuss. Meet me on the veranda at sundown, okay?” He froze with his sandwich halfway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/umm-ren-we-have-something-important-we-need-to-discuss-meet-me-on-the/)

[Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/)

> [“If I keep loving you, maybe you'll crack and love me too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/if-i-keep-loving-you-maybe-you-ll-crack-and-love-me-too/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I was drunk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-was-drunk/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Clearly my stunning beauty has clouded your mind." - Rose Hathaway”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/clearly-my-stunning-beauty-has-clouded-your-mind-rose-hathaway/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“You approve?" I asked, spinning around. He slipped an arm around my waist. "Unfortunately, yes. I was hoping you'd show up in something a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-approve-i-asked-spinning-around-he-slipped-an-arm-around-my-waist/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Because I can't help doing it," he said with a shrug. "And hey, if I keep loving you, maybe you'll eventually crack and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/because-i-can-t-help-doing-it-he-said-with-a-shrug-and-hey-if-i-keep/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“You are the world, Letha..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-are-the-world-letha/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“None of us are meant to be or do anything," he said. "We decide what we're going to be. You told me once that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/none-of-us-are-meant-to-be-or-do-anything-he-said-we-decide-what-we/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“You might not believe this, but there is no one like her at this school." "Oh I believe it," I said, thinking back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-might-not-believe-this-but-there-is-no-one-like-her-at-this/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“One thing that never changed among humans: there were always those who wanted to get something for nothing. It was what kept hell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/one-thing-that-never-changed-among-humans-there-were-always-those-who/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“So many details came into focus. The shape of his lips, the line of his neck. “I’m not dangerous,” I breathed. He brought his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/so-many-details-came-into-focus-the-shape-of-his-lips-the-line-of-his/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Rowena Clark and I had met on the first day of our mixed media class. I’d sat down at her table and said, “Mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/rowena-clark-and-i-had-met-on-the-first-day-of-our-mixed-media-class/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“You know," he said, "under normal circumstances, you inviting me to the bedroom would be the highlight of my day." I crossed my arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/you-know-he-said-under-normal-circumstances-you-inviting-me-to-the/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

## More by Richelle Mead

> [“Jerome shrugged. “We’re back to the part where I don’t give a fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/jerome-shrugged-we-re-back-to-the-part-where-i-don-t-give-a-fuck/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [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/)

> [“A piece of heaven?" I managed to ask. He slowly shook his head. "No. The other place. The one I'm going to burn in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/a-piece-of-heaven-i-managed-to-ask-he-slowly-shook-his-head-no-the/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [When I talked to him earlier, he said he had to work tonight,” Peter explained, “but that we should go ahead and draw for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/when-i-talked-to-him-earlier-he-said-he-had-to-work-tonight-peter/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [It was a nephilim.” “A nephi-what?” asked Hugh, startled. “Isn’t that a character on Sesame Street?” Peter spoke up for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-was-a-nephilim-a-nephi-what-asked-hugh-startled-isn-t-that-a/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Life and death were so unpredictable. So close to each other. We existed moment to moment, never knowing who would be the next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-and-death-were-so-unpredictable-so-close-to-each-other-we/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I watched, enthralled, as he painted a large silver heart with flames edging one side. The whole design was Celtic in style. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-watched-enthralled-as-he-painted-a-large-silver-heart-with-flames/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“I loved Aeson. You have no idea what love is.” “Oh, I do. I know that it’s the best high and the worst hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-loved-aeson-you-have-no-idea-what-love-is-oh-i-do-i-know-that-it-s/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Why would you do that? Why would you act like you didn't know how to drive?" "Isn't it obvious, Sage? No, of course it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/why-would-you-do-that-why-would-you-act-like-you-didn-t-know-how-to/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Everything I’d fought for, every challenge, every victory … all of it was empty if anything happened to him. Without him, I wouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/everything-i-d-fought-for-every-challenge-every-victory-all-of-it-was/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Is it true? You had a clean getaway and risked it all for me?" I Swallowed. "It wouldn't have been a clean getaway without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/is-it-true-you-had-a-clean-getaway-and-risked-it-all-for-me-i/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Keith was just bringing the glass to his lips when Adrian said, "Mmm. O positive, my favorite." Keith sprayed out the wine he'd just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/keith-was-just-bringing-the-glass-to-his-lips-when-adrian-said-mmm-o/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“Life’s like that. As we grow and change, some things we’ve experienced before take on new meaning. It’ll happen for the rest of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/life-s-like-that-as-we-grow-and-change-some-things-we-ve-experienced/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [Hey Sydney," she said, giving me a small, crooked smile as she entered the room. Her flashing, dark eyes were friendly, but they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/hey-sydney-she-said-giving-me-a-small-crooked-smile-as-she-entered/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“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/)

[Explore all 2,001 Richelle Mead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

## More Breath quotes

> [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/)

[Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/)

> [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/)

[Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/)

[Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/)

> [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/)

[Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/)

> [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/)

[Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/)

> [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/)

[Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/)

> [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/)

[Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/)

> [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/)

[Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/)

> [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/)

[Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/)

> [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/)

 404 Ink

[Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught my breath as he kissed my neck, teeth grating my skin. 'And I'll take back what's mine.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richelle Mead"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been-anyway-i-caught-my-breath-as/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breath"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been-anyway-i-caught-my-breath-as/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ef/richelle-mead-46_breath_it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been_260483.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It does. This is how it should have been anyway.' I caught my breath as he kissed my neck, teeth grating my…” — Richelle Mead",
                "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": "Richelle Mead",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It does. This is how it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been-anyway-i-caught-my-breath-as/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-does-this-is-how-it-should-have-been-anyway-i-caught-my-breath-as/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
