Page 120 of Commander’s Mate

We had said things around it.

Wanted.

Chosen.

Mate.

Solmatu.

Mine in ways that were carefully negotiated.

Love had been sitting in the room without a name.

Zared looked at me.

Not startled.

Not triumphant.

Still.

“Yes,” he said.

One word.

No ceremony.

My throat tightened.

“That was easy.”

“No.”

I blinked.

He reached across the table.

“Not easy.”

His fingers touched mine.

“Certain.”

I looked at our hands.

“I love you too.”

Something changed in his face.

Not the mate instinct.

Not possession.

Relief.

That mattered more.

He lifted my hand and pressed his mouth to my knuckles.