A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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He had loved her, waited for her, for centuries.

Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers. "I cannot go on without you. The future means nothing to me if you are not there to share it with me. I want to hold you in my arms when the sun goes down, and make love to you until it comes up again."

"We don't have to get married…"

Lifting his head, he opened his eyes and gazed down at her. "I am an honorable man." A wry grin touched his lips. "Or I was, when I was alive. I will not make you mine unless we are wed."

She smiled up at him, touched by his words.

"Say yes."

He looked down at her, a silent entreaty in his eyes. How could she deny him again? "Yes, Dominic, I'll marry you."

He stared at her for several moments,then crushed her in his arms, his lips moving in her hair. Tracyclosed her eyes, a sense of peace enveloping her.

After a moment, he drew away. "Do you want to change your clothes?"

"You really mean for us to get married tonight?But how? We need a marriage license." She paused. "Blood tests."

He waved his hand in a gesture of dismissal. "I will take care of all that."

Tracyglanced down at her jeans and T-shirt. "I always wanted to get married in a long white gown…"

Dominic took her hand. There was a rushing sound in her ears, a sense of disorientation, and when she opened her eyes again, she was in a bridal shop in the city.

"I wish you'd give me some warning before you do that," she said. "Time is of the essence."

Tracylooked through the gowns, choosing three she liked. Carrying them into the dressing room, she tried them on. The first was sleeveless with a square neck and a straight skirt. It looked very modern and fit beautifully, but it didn't feel like a wedding dress. The second had short puffy sleeves, a high neck, and a poofy skirt. She looked at her reflection in the mirror… and shook her head.

The third dress was perfect. It had a round neck, long sleeves, a full skirt with a short train, and it fit as though it had been made for her. She picked out a shoulder-length veil to go with it.

When a saleslady came to check on her,Tracy said she would take the dress and the veil.
They made several other stops.