Gabriel praised her beauty and her goodness, comparing her to a pearl and declaring the Love, itself, was featured in her visage. Julia whispered her thanks for his beautiful words, stilling so that she could hear his heart beat under her ear. she was overwhelmed to think that she held this person, this man she had loved for so long, in her arms. she couldn't stop touching him, tracing every muscle, every sinew of taut perfection. she traced his eyebrows, the indentation above the center of his sensuous upper lip, his sideburns, his ears...