--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lauren could smell the starch that kept…" description: "\"“Lauren could smell the starch that kept Jared’s shirtfront crisp, which blended intoxicatingly with tobacco and champagne. When he spoke in confidenti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/sandra-brown-3975_quote_lauren-could-smell-the-starch-that-kept_600171.jpg" --- # Lauren could smell the starch that kept Jared’s shirtfront… ![“Lauren could smell the starch that kept Jared’s shirtfront crisp, which blended intoxicatingly with tobacco and champagne. When he spoke in confidential tones to the silly woman, Lauren could feel the vibration of his voice in his chest. The bank director’s wife moved away, and still Jared…” quote by Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/sandra-brown-3975_quote_lauren-could-smell-the-starch-that-kept_600171.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/sandra-brown-3975_quote_lauren-could-smell-the-starch-that-kept_600171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/sandra-brown-3975_quote_lauren-could-smell-the-starch-that-kept_600171.jpg) > ““Lauren could smell the starch that kept Jared’s shirtfront crisp, which blended intoxicatingly with tobacco and champagne. When he spoke in confidential tones to the silly woman, Lauren could feel the vibration of his voice in his chest. The bank director’s wife moved away, and still Jared retained his possessive hold on her. His hand trembled slightly as his thumb moved upward and lightly stroked the side of her breast. Or did she only imagine it? Lauren thought she would die from the constriction in her chest that pounded up into her throat and sought release in a small moan. Another guest walked toward them. Slowly, reluctantly, the strong fingers were withdrawn, leaving behind an imprint on Lauren’s skin as scorching as a brand.”” [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid, sensual scene depicting tension, desire, and ambiguous consent. **In simple terms:** Intense, ambiguous encounter. Key Takeaway Reflect on boundaries and consent. Themes desire power ambiguity Mood intense conflicted Type literary sensual When to use this quote - relationship counseling - personal reflection - artistic analysis Key Concepts psychology sexual dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does this scene reveal about power? - How do you interpret consent here? A Different Perspective Potentially glorifies questionable behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chest Pounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chest-pounded-4895044/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Lauren Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lauren-smell-4895045/) [Lauren Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lauren-thought-4895048/) [Pounded Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pounded-throat-4895047/) [Woman Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-lauren-4895046/) ## Related quotes > [“The intensity of his expression caused her to tentatively ask, “What?” “I’ve never been a big fan of the missionary position.” Not quite sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/the-intensity-of-his-expression-caused-her-to-tentatively-ask-what-i/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. 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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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Sandra Brown > [“The intensity of his expression caused her to tentatively ask, “What?” “I’ve never been a big fan of the missionary position.” Not quite sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/the-intensity-of-his-expression-caused-her-to-tentatively-ask-what-i/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > ['Slow Heat in Heaven' was my 'breakout' or 'crossover' book, and I loved the freedom I felt writing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/slow-heat-in-heaven-was-my-breakout-or-crossover-book-and-i-loved-the/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [People don't care how smart woman is as long as she's charming and gay and pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/people-don-t-care-how-smart-woman-is-as-long-as-she-s-charming-and/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“Ella almost cried out in relief upon seeing him. 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It's the thread that holds the rest of the story fabric together. In fact, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/i-try-to-weave-a-secret-into-each-plot-it-s-the-thread-that-holds-the/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“If she commits to something, it's forged in steel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/if-she-commits-to-something-it-s-forged-in-steel/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“That all any of us has to give is our best. if we do that. we succeed, no matter what the outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/that-all-any-of-us-has-to-give-is-our-best-if-we-do-that-we-succeed/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“...He called up the numbness with which he armed himself to get through each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/he-called-up-the-numbness-with-which-he-armed-himself-to-get-through/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“Love was a word that poets and songwriters used. They vested the emotion with tremendous powers over the human heart and mind, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/love-was-a-word-that-poets-and-songwriters-used-they-vested-the/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [Even knowing the ending was sad, I wouldn't have deprived myself the beauty of the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/even-knowing-the-ending-was-sad-i-wouldn-t-have-deprived-myself-the/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“her top and into the elastic waistband of the baggy pants. He lightly ground the heel of his”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/her-top-and-into-the-elastic-waistband-of-the-baggy-pants-he-lightly/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [“Her fingers dug into the flesh of his hips as his own passion peaked. 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"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. 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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": "“Lauren could smell the starch that kept Jared’s shirtfront crisp, which blended intoxicatingly with tobacco and champagne. When he spoke in confidential tones to the silly woman, Lauren could feel the vibration of his voice in his chest. The bank director’s wife moved away, and still Jared retained his possessive hold on her. His hand trembled slightly as his thumb moved upward and lightly stroked the side of her breast. Or did she only imagine it? Lauren thought she would die from the constriction in her chest that pounded up into her throat and sought release in a small moan. Another guest walked toward them. 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