Page 23 of Dark Horizon New Dawn

Karen closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I really need to get ready."

"Yeah, yeah." He pulled on a pair of boxer briefs, walked over to the bed, and turned the television on. "You don't mind if I watch something while you do your makeup, right?" He lay down on the bed without waiting for her response.

"I don't. Enjoy your channel surfing."

Gilbert had always been a virile male with a healthy appetite for sex, but since his transition, he'd become insatiable, and his stamina was through the roof. She tried to keep up, but he was exhausting her, and as much as she hated disappointing him, she couldn't handle one more session.

She would never admit it to him, but she was starting to dread getting in bed.

It was temporary, she reminded herself. Soon, she would be immortal, too, and their energy levels would match.

With a sigh, Karen began her routine, first dabbing a light moisturizer onto her skin and patting it down until it dissolved into a silky smoothness. Next came the foundation, which she'd had formulated to match her exact skin tone.

She used to love the process, the transformation she could achieve with contouring and shading, but her skin no longer looked smooth, and the foundation was accentuating every little wrinkle and crease.

Perhaps it was better to go without?

Nah. No one would see the imperfection in the dim light of the transformed dining room, but the shading and contouring would transform her face.

Reaching for the eyeshadow palette, she opted for earthy tones that complemented her eyes, and blended the colors with gentle, circular motions, creating a soft, smoky effect that was neither too bold nor too understated. After cleaning up the corners, she drew a thin line of black eyeliner along her upper lash line, giving her eyes a defined look.

"You look beautiful," Gilbert said from the bed.

"Thank you." She slanted him a smile. "I'm not done yet."

"You look beautiful without any of the war paint."

She chuckled. "War paint? Is that what it looks like?"

"I'm just teasing. You look great. Which dress are you wearing tonight?"

"The silver one. Why are you asking?"

He shrugged, his shoulders looking so much more defined and muscular now, even though he hadn't increased his exercise routine after his transition. It was just happening, the same way his hair was regrowing, and his midsection had lost its padding of fat.

He turned on his side. "I was just imagining dancing with you, and I needed a dress to go with the fantasy."

"You're weird." She dabbed a hint of blush over her cheeks, bringing a warm, rosy hue to her face.

Gilbert propped his head on his hand. "It's not weird to imagine the good things in life even if they are readily available. It enhances the experience. You should try it. Close your eyes and imagine yourself with me on the dance floor, looking into my eyes and telling me that you love me and that I'm the hunkiest male there."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you imagine yourself telling me that I'm the sexiest, most beautiful woman on the dance floor?"

"I do. That's why I needed to know what dress you are planning to wear."

Shaking her head, Karen picked up a lipstick that was a shade darker than her natural lip color, but then changed her mind and went for something bolder, a deep burgundy red.

As she pressed her lips together to blend the color, Karen admired the overall effect. "Not bad if I say so myself."

"Magnificent," Gilbert said.

She turned to him. "Do you ever imagine how I will look after the transition?"

"I don't have to imagine. I know what you will look like."

"And that's what?"

"The way you looked when I first met you. Although, to tell you the truth, in my eyes you haven't changed. When I look at you, I always see the woman I fell in love with."

---