Dorian set his bowl of salad aside and took the little box from Bull. Opening it revealed, nestled on black velvet, an exquisite ring. It was not an outrageously expensive piece, made of what seemed to be brass, perhaps, and set with a single, huge, glorious opal. In the light of the apartment, it had a milky glow; it seemed almost alive. Like, true to its name, it was a living and breathing flame inside. It was perfectly mundane, of course -- at least, it was right now, and Dorian had oh so many plans -- but that only seemed to add to the beauty of it. It was just a piece of stone, made that way by nature.

Dorian was struck dumb for a handful of heartbeats. Even once he thought he'd found his voice again, he didn't speak, but instead threw his arms around Bull's neck and hugged him with ferocity.

"You have any eye for this sort of thing."

It meant My gods, I didn't think I could love you any harder.

"Put it on. Here, put it on."

He held out a slender brown hand.

"Oh, I could make something very special out of this."