Page 23 of Loving the Lion

He slipped inside the door, and his heart stopped. There she lay, looking so small and fragile against the white sheets. Her dark hair had been combed and lay fanned across her pillow. Her eyes were shut, her long lashes casting shadows against her pale cheeks.

Fuck. He could have lost her tonight. His knees threatened to give way at the gravity of that thought, and he made his way to the chair by her side. He gathered her small hand between his, wincing at the coolness of her skin. He rubbed it gently, trying to instill some warmth. Just as he was reaching for the call button to insist they bring more cover or turn up the heat—anything so she wouldn’t feel so damn cold—her eyelids fluttered.

“Bachar?” Her voice was hoarse, no doubt from the effects of surgery. Her eyes were slightly glazed, the beautiful brown color dull. Again, the fear of losing her washed over him, and he lashed out.

“If you ever do something as fucking stupid again—”

“You’ll what?” Her voice may have sounded like a rusty bucket, but it held no less steel than it had when she had demanded that he go find her brother. He looked at their joined hands and slowly entwined their fingers together.

“I’ll turn you over my knee and spank you so damn hard, you won’t be able to sit down for a month.”

One of her dark brows rose. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” He whispered as he leaned closer, their noses brushing, their lips almost touching. “And I’ll damn well guarantee you’ll love every minute of it.”

“Oh.” That comment had her eyes widening and her lips curving into a smile. Her other hand lifted and threaded themselves into his hair right above his ear. His lion purred. Her happy expression didn’t last long as she bit her lip, looking at him with so much sadness that he felt his heart breaking. “I was so scared. I was afraid they were going to kill you.”

“Oh, baby.” He hesitated briefly, his instincts for keeping her safe and those needing to be closer to her warring with him. But soon he was standing and gently picking her up into his arms. Sitting back down, he pulled the blanket from the bed, maneuvering it around the drip in her arm until she was wrapped up tight against him, all warm and toasty. “You are the one that scared the hell out of me,” he breathed against her lips, before taking them in a kiss that quickly morphed from light as a feather to one heavy with passion.

“Damn, I didn’t mean to do that.” He pulled away, his breathing heavy. Hers was labored, and he called himself all kinds of a fool. She wasn’t in any shape to receive his passion. He started to stand, intent on putting her back into bed and calling the nurse.

“No, don’t.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “I want to stay here.”

His lion, sensing she was okay, rubbed against him and he settled her on his lap again, promising himself no more kisses.

She leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. He contented himself with holding her, occasionally running his hand over her hips and down her legs. Cupping her feet to assure himself she was warm enough. As he sat there, with the love of his life in his arms, the events of the day started to catch up with him as well. His eyes drifted shut. He knew they had a lot to talk about. A lot to say. Starting with the words I love you and ending with, you’re my mate.

But it didn’t matter. Not in this moment. Not in the moment when he and his lion were both finally content after a lifetime of feeling lost and alone.

After so many long years, they had finally found their home.

Why? Because they had finally found their mate.

For a mate was a shifter’s home.

ONE MONTH LATER…

Sally walked out of the hotel and placed her hand over her eyes to block out the morning sun as she searched her surroundings. It was still too early for a true spring, but the mountain was already showing signs of the renewal of life. Small pockets of green were pushing their way from the cover of the forest floor, and some of the trees were already sporting small green buds. She moved to her right, taking a private pathway leading away from the hotel.

It was taking longer than Bachar had anticipated to build their new home higher up on the mountain and they were still living in the hotel. Sally had been happy staying here with him—who wouldn’t be with maid service and as much ice cream as she wanted just a phone call away—but the mighty lion had wanted more for his mate.

As she walked, she couldn’t believe the changes that had occurred in the last thirty days. She didn’t entirely like it, but her brother was now staying with the Richardson pack and learning how to be a wolf. She had quit her job in Maine and moved here to be closer to him. And, of course, to be with Bachar. She hoped to find another teaching job soon. Bachar had even talked about starting a school on the mountains so the children didn’t have to travel so far.

She smiled when she spotted what she’d been looking for—a magnificent lion sunning himself on top of a boulder.

With carefree steps, she made her way to her husband. The air was warm on her face, and she looked forward to spring and summer. But her favorite season would always be winter. After her kidnapping, Bachar had helped her recover in the most delightful of ways. They had spent the last of the cold winter days in each other’s arms.

“May I escort you?” Tarek’s deep voice sounded behind her, and for once she didn’t jump. It was amazing how quite the man was.

She smiled at him as he dropped into step beside her. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. But I’ve found it’s best if I at least give you the illusion of being in control.”

Sally snorted. During her recovery, Bachar had assigned Daniel full-time as her personal assistant and made both Tarek and Keair guard her when he was away. Tarek took his duties seriously, never leaving her side. Keair did the same but would disregard the strict guidelines Bachar had tried to enforce concerning her welfare. The tiger was one mischievous—and downright sexy—package from the tips of his ears to the sharp points of his claws. And it drove Bachar nuts that she and the tiger had become BFFs.

Tarek was also her friend. A friend that she wanted to help.

She stumbled and immediately his hand was under her elbow. “Careful. The alpha would not like to see you injured.”