“From childhood you have been everything to me,” he whispered. “Only now, more so. For all of eternity, you will be here, Shemei. ”

“God saves - but not now, and not here. His salvation is on layaway. Like all grifters, He asks you to pay now and take it on faith that you will receive later. Whereas women offer a different sort of salvation, more immediate and fulfilling. They don't put off their love for a distant, ill-defined eternity but make a gift of it in the here and now, frequently to those who deserve it least. So it was in my case. So it is for many. The devil and woman have been allies against God from the beginning...”

“Everything in my life has been leading up to this," he whispered. "Everything that's happened, everything I've done has been worth it because it's brought me here.”

“Look, you came all the way out here to help me. The least I can do is give you a place to stay. But my dad will be there, so…”“So we have to be quiet,” he whispers, waggling his eyebrows comically.I just smile. I neither confirm nor deny that there will be more sex. But there will be. If he tries very hard at all, there definitely will be.”

“Tell me that you want me.” He whispered.“I want you.” Always.“Only me?” “Only you.” Had there ever been anyone else?”

“We have eternity, beloved.""You may have eternity. I have only now.""But this is eternity.”