Page 71 of A Lion's Heart

“He has reasons,” she said quietly.

Decan nodded. “I know some of them now. But Cole is back and even though we have Mackey, they won’t stop. Not unless we stop them.”

He was right again. She knew it as surely as she knew her name.

“I won’t…I can’t do this without you,” he continued.

She looked up at him, wondering once more. “Because I’m yourcompanheiro.”

“No,” he said, his voice lowering to a gruff whisper. “Because you’re my heart. You’re everything I was trying to hold onto each night in that camp. I knew that the moment I saw you at Assembly Headquarters. That’s why I couldn’t leave. I’m in love with you Nisa Reynolds.”

There were no stars, no bursts of warmth in her chest the way Shya’s books had always said there would be. Nisa didn’t feel like flinging herself into his arms and having him lift her in the air and spin her around. There was no intense joy and thoughts of happy ever after. There was, however, peace. It settled over her like a fresh sheet in the morning breeze and wrapped her in security and comfort. She knew exactly what her mother had been speaking of in that moment. This was her second awakening. It was the moment she accepted the woman and the mate she was meant to be.

“I’ll rule by your side?” she asked.

Decan wrapped an arm around her waist, his strong fingers splaying over her bare backside.

“You’ll be my partner,” he told her.

“No secrets?”

“No secrets?” he asked her in return.

She couldn’t help the small smile that slowly spread.

“I’ll plan the future of the Central Zone shifters with you,” he said as he brought the wrist he’d continued to hold up to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. “I’ll listen to you and respect you.”

His hands moved to her hips then, sliding down until he was lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his waist. “I’ll cherish and protect you.”

Nisa wrapped her arms around his neck and rotated her hips at the feel of the crest of his arousal against the already damp folds of her sex.

“I will help you plan the future of the Central Zone shifters,” she said and gave a slow moan when he pressed his length slowly into her.

“I’ll listen to you and respect you,” she continued.

He kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose.

“I’ll cherish and protect you,” she whispered when his cock went deeper.

His lips found hers and the words tumbled free as she finally let go. “I’ll cherish and protect. I’ll love you, Decan.”

He growled and pressed his full length into her. She clasped her feet and hugged him tight, never wanting to break thiscompanheiroconnection.

“I’ll love you, Nisa,” he whispered and began to move slowly and deliciously in and out of her.

“So I’ve claimed a lion’s heart,” Nisa said on another moan as Decan’s hands spread her cheeks apart and thrust deeper into her.

He nuzzled her neck, licking along her shoulder before sinking his teeth into her skin and licking the spot when she growled in response. “Yes, baby, you’ve finally claimed this lion’s heart.”