"I smiled awkwardly. "I don't... I don't know what to say."He shrugged and smiled at me. "I still can barely believe what I thinkI found out. Just sit...ting here and looking at you..." Keith, please," I interrupted. I took a deep breath. "Did you show...the draft to anyone else? Your editor?"He laughed mirthlessly. "God, no! If he saw what I knew and that Ihadn't used it, he'd have my balls for breakfast." He winced. "Sorry.Unfortunate turn of phrase."I could not help but smile. "So Keith, why am. ‘You want to play games with hypnosis? You want to turn someone into your lesbian sex toy? Fine.’ She advanced, giving the pendant a tiny flick of the wrist to set it into motion. ‘Let’s see how you like it.’ Serena backed away as Ivy moved in, but Ivy had chosen her ambush too well. There was only so much room she could retreat before her back hit the wall of the common room with a sharp thud. The impact clearly startled Serena-she was already staring at the crystal so closely that she clearly. Uh, what is the word?”“A miracle,” Jeff offered.“Yes, a female firing a weapon at anything, other than maybe a target, would normally be even beyond one learning to defend herself physically and would definitely fall into the miracle category. Aggression has been ... bred out of them, I suppose. Instead, they have been bred to serve any male who asks for it, and I seriously doubt that could ever be changed to any significant degree. That said, I have worked with my females and have had some. Mark bent down, lifted her under her legs and carried her over to an armchair. He sat down in it with her on his knee, continuing to stroke her and kiss the top of her head.Finally she pulled herself together. "Does that mean we're engaged?" she asked hesitantly."No, I don't think so, because I haven't asked you to marry me yet." Are you going to?" I hope so." Soon?" I don't know, darling. All I know is that I love you and that you love me and have done for some time. But, we only got to know.