Marcello looked impressed. Wide-eyed, she gazed at the other girl. "What's gotten into you?" she asked. "You're so forceful tonight."

She leaned against Marcello and sighed with satisfaction. Her mouth moved over the tops of her breasts. "Mayhaps you've made me go mad? You or the moons, you all have the same pull."

Marcello shivered, her shoulders arching back, and she grinned indulgently. "Marry me," she said. "The knife they use in weddings, that's not iron, is it?"

The idea was enough to make Niabheara jerk away, shuddering. "No, no, of course not." She settled in again. "Dying for love is all well and good, but not during the wedding." She tipped her head and nipped at Marcello's chin. "Why do you ask?"

Marcello tipped her head up to catch Niabheara's lips with her own. "Then there's no need to wait," she said breathlessly. "I can glamour myself through a wedding ceremony."

Niabheara laughed again and delivered a rather hard swat to Marcello's hip, in lieu of hitting her ass. "What, would you have us married under false pretences?" She smiled to herself. "Oh, you shouldn't tempt me . . . I bet that's a prank that's ne'er been tried."

"Not false," Marcello answered, hooking her foot around Niabheara's ankle. "I'm a man. You're a woman. I just happen to be under a curse, but that doesn't make me any less of a man, does it?"

Niabheara lost her balance, but caught herself by planting a hand to either side of Marcello's head. "Nothing so manly," she assured her. "I thought it was plain: you've been a female barely a single day and I'm longing to have you back again. Although," and she smiled, pushing a knee between Marcello's, "I won't say this doesn't have its appeal."

The black in her eyes abated by a fraction. "Mean it?" she said softly.

"Ahh..." Marcello let out a little peep, tipping her head back until it hit the door. "Mean what? About marrying you?" she asked. "I'd marry you tonight, if I could. Tomorrow. The moment we could get someone to say the ceremony."

"Would that we could, dear, but I've told you why we can't." She gave her a sweet kiss, nothing like as insistent as she had been. "That you feel so is enough for me."