--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he…" description: "\"“Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and reluctantly brought the kiss to an end. He raised his head. Patience's eyes slowly opened, then s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/stephanie-laurens-4465_curious_distant-voices-reached-him-inwardly-he-s_1781760.jpg" --- # Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and… ![“Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and reluctantly brought the kiss to an end. He raised his head. Patience's eyes slowly opened, then she blinked, and stared straight at him. For one instant, the look on her face, in her eyes, had him puzzled- then he recognized it. Curious- she…” quote by Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/stephanie-laurens-4465_curious_distant-voices-reached-him-inwardly-he-s_1781760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/stephanie-laurens-4465_curious_distant-voices-reached-him-inwardly-he-s_1781760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/stephanie-laurens-4465_curious_distant-voices-reached-him-inwardly-he-s_1781760.jpg) > ““Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and reluctantly brought the kiss to an end. He raised his head. Patience's eyes slowly opened, then she blinked, and stared straight at him. For one instant, the look on her face, in her eyes, had him puzzled- then he recognized it. Curious- she wasn't shocked, stunned, or thrown into a maidenly fluster. She was curious. Vane couldn't stop his rakish grin. Nor could he resist the temptation to brush his lips over hers one last time. "What are you doing?" Patience whispered as his head bent to hers. Even at close quarters, she could still see his smile. "It's called 'kiss and make up.'" The curve of his lips deepened. "It's what lovers do when they fall out." A vise locked Patience's heart; panic- it had to be that- streaked through her. "We aren't lovers." "Yet." His lips touched hers and she shivered. "We never will be." She might be giddy, but she was quite sure of that. He stilled, but his confident smile didn't waver. "Don't wager your fortune on it." Again, his lips brushed hers.”” [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense, flirtatious encounter where two characters navigate uncertainty and desire, using a kiss as both a promise and a denial of deeper commitment. **In simple terms:** Flirtation and uncertainty about love. Key Takeaway Recognize when attraction is playful, not serious. Themes romance uncertainty desire Mood tension playful anxious Type dialogue romantic dramatic When to use this quote - first dates - conflicted relationships - emotional boundaries - guy‑girl banter Key Concepts flirtation commitment psychology Questions to Reflect On - Are you mistaking chemistry for commitment? - How do you set clear boundaries in flirtation? A Different Perspective The dialogue may romanticize emotional manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kisses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kisses/) [Patience-and-vane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-and-vane/) ## Related quotes > [“Beyond his volition, Vane's gaze lowered to her lips, to the soft rose-tinted curves he now knew so well. Their shape was etched in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/beyond-his-volition-vane-s-gaze-lowered-to-her-lips-to-the-soft-rose/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“That's obviously my cue to depart." Patience grinned. "Coward," she whispered, as he passed her chair. A heartbeat later, he'd swung about and bent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/that-s-obviously-my-cue-to-depart-patience-grinned-coward-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Hauling in a quick breath, she held it, stretched upward, shut her eyes, and fleetingly touched her lips to his. They were as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/hauling-in-a-quick-breath-she-held-it-stretched-upward-shut-her-eyes/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [Alas...I too have known love, that ruler of hearts, that soul of our soul: it's never brought me anything except one kiss and twenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/alas-i-too-have-known-love-that-ruler-of-hearts-that-soul-of-our-soul/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“She let him kiss her, let all the sensations he brought with his kiss course through her freshly relaxed body. His mouth was warm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/she-let-him-kiss-her-let-all-the-sensations-he-brought-with-his-kiss/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [“When soul meets soul on lovers' lips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/when-soul-meets-soul-on-lovers-lips/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [They kissed for the sort of endless moment that only exists between lovers whose lips are still new territory to one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/they-kissed-for-the-sort-of-endless-moment-that-only-exists-between/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Patience is that: the heart does not feel anger towards that which is destined (for you) and that the mouth does not complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/patience-is-that-the-heart-does-not-feel-anger-towards-that-which-is-2/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [Patience is that the heart does not feel anger towards that which is destined and that the mouth does not complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/patience-is-that-the-heart-does-not-feel-anger-towards-that-which-is/) [Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-qayyim-al-jawziyya/) > [“One that is ever kind said yesterday: 'Your well-beloved's hair has threads of grey, And little shadows come about her eyes; Time can but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/one-that-is-ever-kind-said-yesterday-your-well-beloved-s-hair-has/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“Soul meet soul on lovers' lips.Except when wax and pigment come between them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cd-reiss/soul-meet-soul-on-lovers-lips-except-when-wax-and-pigment-come/) CD Reiss > [“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-learn-such-useful-skills-very/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [Soul meets soul on lovers' lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/soul-meets-soul-on-lovers-lips/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“So," he murmured, his tone deep, "nothing of any moment happened here." Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-he-murmured-his-tone-deep-nothing-of-any-moment-happened-here-her/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [Have patience, heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/have-patience-heart/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) ## More by Stephanie Laurens > [“I assume 'elegant gentlemen,' such as you, learn such useful skills very early in life." "Actually, no." Straight-faced, Vane reached for her pins. "Us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-assume-elegant-gentlemen-such-as-you-learn-such-useful-skills-very/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Assault!" he croaked. "The battery might yet follow." The warning- entirely unnecessary from Patience's perspective- came from Vane. One look at his face, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/assault-he-croaked-the-battery-might-yet-follow-the-warning-entirely/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“then her ladyship, overwhelming in bronze bombazine, regally glided away. Cedric smiled”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/then-her-ladyship-overwhelming-in-bronze-bombazine-regally-glided/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“So how are the wedding plans progressing?" Richard asked, once they were out of the village. "They aren't." Breckenridge heard his clipped tones, heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-how-are-the-wedding-plans-progressing-richard-asked-once-they-were/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“So," he murmured, his tone deep, "nothing of any moment happened here." Her gaze transfixed by the long strip of linen, Patience tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/so-he-murmured-his-tone-deep-nothing-of-any-moment-happened-here-her/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Why did you stay?" He stilled; again, Patience felt the net draw tight, felt paralysis set in as his predator's senses focused on her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/why-did-you-stay-he-stilled-again-patience-felt-the-net-draw-tight/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“She’d been expecting him to do so and had planned her revenge. She tipped forward as he lifted her; the shift in her weight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/she-d-been-expecting-him-to-do-so-and-had-planned-her-revenge-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Delicate, hauntingly uncertain music floated out of the house. Vane heard it as he walked up from the stables. The lilting strains reached him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/delicate-hauntingly-uncertain-music-floated-out-of-the-house-vane/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“I've been meaning to ask," Breckenridge said, "jus how you came to topple backward off that rail." He looked at her. "What with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/i-ve-been-meaning-to-ask-breckenridge-said-jus-how-you-came-to-topple/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“You also," he said, lowering his voice, "haven't yet thanked me for saving you from sitting in the flower bed." She didn't even look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/you-also-he-said-lowering-his-voice-haven-t-yet-thanked-me-for-saving/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“That woman who was her true self saw Lord Sebastian Cynster, Marquess of Earith, as, quite simply, hers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/that-woman-who-was-her-true-self-saw-lord-sebastian-cynster-marquess/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Do you ride?" The question was out of his mouth before he'd thought. She glanced at him, surprised by the comment coming out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/do-you-ride-the-question-was-out-of-his-mouth-before-he-d-thought-she/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“Holding her breath, she stepped out, heading for the better-illuminated section of the room. Hard hands closed about her upper arms. She started-very nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/holding-her-breath-she-stepped-out-heading-for-the-better-illuminated/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [My heart only ever had one thought, one want. One need. Despite all, in spite of all...All my heart has ever wanted is you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/my-heart-only-ever-had-one-thought-one-want-one-need-despite-all-in/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) > [“And remembered—all he'd nearly forgotten, all her wild responses had driven from his mind. This was one seduction he had to, needed to, manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-laurens/and-remembered-all-he-d-nearly-forgotten-all-her-wild-responses-had/) [Stephanie Laurens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) [Explore all 110 Stephanie Laurens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-laurens/) ## More Curious quotes > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [“The process of becoming curious is the movement away from simply living by what and how, and moving into the beautifully ambiguous and possibility-laden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-tygrett/the-process-of-becoming-curious-is-the-movement-away-from-simply/) Casey Tygrett > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [I don't know what successful journaling really looks like... I think it really does look so different for everyone who does it, I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-don-t-know-what-successful-journaling-really-looks-like-i-think-it/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [“So curious you must be. Like little calves poking their heads through the fence with big eyes and a headful of curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/so-curious-you-must-be-like-little-calves-poking-their-heads-through/) [Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/) > [Our world is drowning in a sea of self-centeredness. You can make yourself quite unique right away by leaving this ocean of selfishness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/our-world-is-drowning-in-a-sea-of-self-centeredness-you-can-make/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [Be curious not judge mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/be-curious-not-judge-mental/) Unknow > [“It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/it-is-curious-how-little-interested-we-are-in-the-sexual-desires-of/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [International friendly games are not worth the lives of the silk worms who perish to make the pennants. They do not even have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-baker/international-friendly-games-are-not-worth-the-lives-of-the-silk/) [Danny Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-baker/) > [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/) [Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/) > [Easy, Curious George! Get your grubby hands off of that wheel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/easy-curious-george-get-your-grubby-hands-off-of-that-wheel/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [We want to explore. We're curious people. Look back over history, people have put their lives at stake to go out and explore ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-collins/we-want-to-explore-we-re-curious-people-look-back-over-history-people/) [Eileen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-collins/) > [When I think about unique insight, what I think about is here's your opportunity to tell me something that I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/when-i-think-about-unique-insight-what-i-think-about-is-here-s-your/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) Browse all 2,160 Curious quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Distant voices reached him; inwardly, he sighed, and reluctantly brought the kiss to an end. He raised his head. Patience's eyes slowly opened, then she blinked, and stared straight at him. For one instant, the look on her face, in her eyes, had him puzzled- then he recognized it. Curious- she wasn't shocked, stunned, or thrown into a maidenly fluster. She was curious. Vane couldn't stop his rakish grin. Nor could he resist the temptation to brush his lips over hers one last time. \"What are you doing?\" Patience whispered as his head bent to hers. Even at close quarters, she could still see his smile. \"It's called 'kiss and make up.'\" The curve of his lips deepened. \"It's what lovers do when they fall out.\" A vise locked Patience's heart; panic- it had to be that- streaked through her. \"We aren't lovers.\" \"Yet.\" His lips touched hers and she shivered. \"We never will be.\" She might be giddy, but she was quite sure of that. 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