She was already beautiful, but this beauty now, it was preternatural. Her hair was silkier, her skin impossibly smooth, and her eyes—gods, her eyes. He could see eternity there. Past, present, and all the ages to come. He belonged to her—her name was tattooed on his bones. An eon from now, when future beings were digging up his remains, it would be there and they would wonder if it was some ancient death ritual. But it was a life ritual. They were bound forever, and he did not regret it. She said that he would love her, but this was so much more than what could ever be encased by four letters and a single word. “Is it always like is?” “I fucking hope so.” He gathered her close. “I think I knew you were mine from the moment I saw you.” “Did you, now?” he teased. “Maybe. I wasn’t usually in the habit of touching strange men.” Part of him wanted to respond with, “And nor should you be.” But that was just wanting to claim her, to mark her. Only, he wasn’t a dog.
