Page 23 of Healing the Leonid Doctor’s Heart (Felix Orbus Galaxy #6)

“I said I wanted that. I’m not so sure it is.

I... I think things might be different for Felids.

I don’t know how much love enters into things when you’re in survival mode.

I’m old-fashioned, I suppose. I dream about romance, but what Marcus and I have is—” her eyes clouded with lust, and the hot, rampant urge to have him fuck her and fill her again came soaring back, almost making it impossible to speak, “very, very nice. Wonderful. Passionate. Logical. Friendly. Ideal.”

“But you don’t sound like you’re one-hundred-percent happy with the ideal?” Kaylie said hesitantly.

“I’ll be better once I know this booster worked. I know it might take several cycles.”

“The booster? To have a baby?”

“A cub, yes.”

“That’s all this is, you both want a cub? What if you can’t have one? You never tried before this, right? Some women can’t, and they don’t know the reason.”

“Marcus said my numbers were good!” she snapped suddenly, standing and rising. “I have to go. Injections.” She swooshed off, leaving Kaylie looking confused and anxious behind her.

MARCUS RUBBED PAW SALVE into Abigail’s back and arms, looking at the small, round bruises the injections had created, even with alternating the injection site.

“My warrior Queen, with all of her battle scars. Our cub is going to be the luckiest one in the universe, I think. Layla is a dear, but she’s loud and flashy.

Jade can seem so cold and forbidding. Wendy, Bastet bless her, such a timid little thing, even though she’s coming out of her shell.

You, my Abi, have this quiet, resilient, unconquerable strength.

In the best way, you remind me of my Kaya, rest her soul. ”

Marcus pulled his paws away as he realized Abi’s shoulders were shaking. Tears streamed down her cheeks silently. “My Queen!”

“What if there are no cubs, Marcus? You... I know what we said, but doesn’t a Queen have a duty to her King?

Doesn’t she have to let him go free if being with her wouldn’t be the best choice?

Would take away the good things he deserves?

” she whispered, trying to compose herself as she lay on his bed, a black silk sheet held across her naked chest.

“What? I’ve already told you that—”

“It’s not enough. It’s not enough for me, Marcus. I’m sorry. I mean, if we have a cub, it is, of course! But for me to stand in your way of finding a Queen you truly love—”

Marcus knew it was rude and the timing was terrible, but he let out a short, explosive “Ha!”

Abigail stared back at him with red-rimmed eyes and drew herself up slowly, regal grace in every inch of her sweet features.

“It’s not laughable to me. My planet has so few marriages.

Only the richest can afford it. Love is inconvenient, a sacrifice most people on Sapien-Three are reluctant to make.

Pleasure Parks exist to meet physical needs, but hearts go empty.

I thought... I thought I could be selfish enough, Marcus, to make a life without love—oh, not for me, but for you.

It’s okay if you never love me, but you’d have a son or daughter to fill your heart in that special way.

If I can’t give you that, and you don’t love me, you just enjoy me.

.. It’s not fair to you. I won’t have it. ”

“My Queen,” Marcus knelt down on one knee, shaking his head at her as he seized her hands in his paws, “I laughed out of sheer amazement that I have hidden my thoughts so well. That’s all, Abi.

I have been falling in love with you since you first looked into my eyes when you were coming to—months ago.

I couldn’t even place it at first, such a long-forgotten, painful feeling.

And I was a cowardly one, oh, so shameful, a Leonid being cowardly, but there you have it.

Kaya died and broke my heart into a thousand pieces.

I never expected it to heal. I never expected this old heart to work right again. ”

Abigail licked her lips, confusion in her eyes slowly giving way to hope. “But we talked, and you never said—”

“You never said either! Not until tonight! You still haven’t said, but I’m finally brave enough to read between the lines. You said you couldn’t be selfish with me. I have been trying not to be selfish with you. I’m old, sweetie.”

“You aren’t!”

“I’m in my fifties, and you look like you’re thirty-five if you’re a day.”

“I don’t!”

“Abigail, hush!” He showed his teeth, only realizing that his heart was racing when she smiled just a little, and it slowed at the sight.

“You don’t realize that I could set you down on any planet and the rulers of it, their handsome young sons, their virile actors, their wealthy magnates—they would all rush to you, and it would have not a single damn thing to do with your ability to give them a cub.

It would be for your love. Your companionship.

Your beauty. The sweet calmness you bring into any room—and then the wicked, wild streak you would show them.

..” Marcus sank back, eyes closed at the memories of their torrid nights and secret, frantic meetings in the day.

“I shouldn’t keep you from that—but you are my friend, and you chose me.

You would honor me by having my cub. But if you can’t.

.. I should let you go to be some rich Leopardine’s wife, to be covered in jewels and paraded around like a goddess. Do you realize you could have that?”

“No. But, I do realize I don’t want that.

” The hope in her eyes was much brighter now, shining as she leaned forward and slid into his arms, the thin sheet between them.

“Are you telling me that you— love me? Just like this? Just like I am, without anything else? I know you said I’m enough, but we survive on ‘enough.’ Love is a luxury. ”

“And by Bastet, that is one luxury I can give you, Abigail. I can love you until my heart stops beating. It’s only working again because of you.”

“Oh, Marcus!” she flung herself more fully into his embrace, arms wrapping around his neck, face buried in his shoulder as he rocked her.

“Abi,” he finally said, swallowing hard. “I just flung my heart at your feet. Isn’t there something you wanted to tell me?”

Abigail pushed herself out of his embrace, stooped, and picked up something invisible from the floor, then lightly patted Marcus’ chest. “There. Heart is back in place.”

“Abigail! My Queen... My love...” he wheedled, knowing full well she was about to make his dreams come true.

“I love you. You are my first love, and my last love. I will love you until my heart stops beating. It’s only working in the first place—because of you.

And that’s true,” she smiled tremulously, wiping away tears that overflowed her eyes, “you kept me alive. You kept me going by being my friend. You saved me again and again. You’re my hero, Marcus.

How could I avoid loving you?” she whispered.

“I don’t know, but I’m so glad you didn’t. Now.” Marcus cleared his throat and sat her firmly back on the bed. “Since I’m already on my knees, love, I think I’d like to get something out of the way. No, that sounds wrong. I’d like to live my fantasy, is that okay?”

“Well, anytime you have a fantasy where I’m on the bed and you’re kneeling next to it, I’ve been very, very happy,” she laughed.

“Oh, that comes later, my Queen. First, I ask you something. Will you marry me?”

He hadn’t expected her to burst into tears again. Surely she could have seen that coming? “Abi!”

“That means forever? Like... it’s not like when you say you love someone and then you break up? At least, I hope not.”

Marcus put a paw on his chest. “Are you insane? You nearly died to get here, and I nearly died waiting for you. I’m too old to do all this again, Abigail. Marry me, forever?”

“Yes! Forever!”

Marcus sighed and pulled her into a long, enraptured kiss, ages of pain and tension leaving his body.

When he finally broke it off so his beautiful, blushing bride-to-be could breathe, he demanded, “Come on! Get dressed! We have to go tell everyone the good news! We have to pick a date. Kamau needs time to get things for a cake. I’ll need to take you on honeymoon—I have conferences to rearrange! ”

“Marcus, Marcus,” Abigail cautioned with a giggle, catching his paw and pulling him back as he began to rush off in his excitement. “Can’t we celebrate in private first?”

“Oh. I suppose we could,” he purred, tackling her to the bed.