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When she stepped into the doorway, Marcus lost his breath and, formoments, could only stare

Her hair was its usual ant forown

Marcus sed She had left it natural for him He much preferred it to stiff, hair-sprayed perfection and had told her often howhis face in the silky tresses and coown left her slender shoulders bare He had chosen black to reinforce her inclusion in their makeshift family, and it offered a beautiful contrast to her pale, perfect skin The bodice e (More than once, she had expressed her astonishment over how much flesh women routinely exposed here on Earth On Lasara, wo without exposing the goods, as she put it) The darkto her hips, then flared out in a wealth of lih-heeled shoes Seth had fetched for her

She was so beautiful Marcus couldn’t find his voice

Aape when she reached the study Marcus, Seth, David, and Darnell all wore stunning black suits, black shirts, black ties, and black dress shoes David’s long thin dreadlocks were drawn back with a leather tie into a soft mass that fell to his hips Seth’s wavy tresses were si his waist Darnell’s shts And Marcus …

Marcus’s hair was taainst theher A tie lay neatly knotted at his collar

He was nothing short of gorgeous All of them were If they went out like this, they wouldn’t be able to hunt va off the women in droves!

But Marcusand sped her pulse He was the one who had sparked white-hot passion within her, inspired her to find a strength she had thought never to possess again, and lit her life with laughter and teasing

His eyesfaintly with such fierce love she thought sheher

Marcus crossed the rooait that hts and beds with rumpled sheets "You’re so beautiful," he murmured as he stopped in front of her

Heat flooded her face "Thank you So are you"

He raised a hand to her cheek, offered a featherlight caress

"Are we going out?" she asked, curious about the for to distract herself fro need to launch herself into Marcus’s arht arm around her waist and escorted her over to the others

They seemed pretty so fro on?

"A her attention once more, "I know, from the stories you’ve told uided by rules and traditions that, in certain areas, are not unlike those of the tiht, in a way that would best emulate the customs ould folloe on Lasara" He drew her hand to his lips for a kiss "Your own faret that I cannot meet them in person At least, not yet" He motioned to his brethren "But Seth, David, and Darnell have become your family here on Earth"

"Joyfully," David added in his deep, warm voice

Ami smiled She did consider theht you before them to profess my deep, profound love for you, my desire to keep you by my side always, and to ask their per to so honor reat she wondered that her feet still touched the floor With sorrow that this man she so adored would neverthat she had found such a loyal, loving new family here

Her vision blurred with tears Ami bit her lip, blinked the "

Eyes flaring bright aainst hers in a tender kiss, then turned to the others "Seth, David, Darnell … I respectfully ask your perhter, your sister,"--he ive you my word that I will love and cherish her always, put her happiness before my own, and protect her with my life forevermore"

Seth held out his hand "You have my permission, Marcus I wish you both every happiness"

David offered his hand next "You haveyour heart to a woman unequaled" He smiled at Ami "You’ve chosen an honorable man, Ami I could not be happier for the both of you"

Darnell pulled Marcus into a jubilant hug "Welcorinned as he stepped back "Apparently you were just waiting for the perfect woe, ate fa sosuch a horrific initiation to this world