Page 52 of Purrfectly Mated

“That’s alright. I missed you too,” she replied, suddenly feeling shy in front of him.

“Neta,” Brayden stood up and tilted his head, bearing his throat to Hunter. He waited for her mate to sit down before joining him at the table.

“I have some things to discuss with you, but I, uh, understand if you need to wait until tomorrow,” the Bear Shifter said.

He was blushing a bright pink, kind of endearing really. As was his refusal to make eye contact with his leader. Elissa’s brow furrowed until it finally dawned on her what he meant.

The big Bear figured she and Hunter were about to engage in a marathon boinkfest. Not that she was opposed to the idea, but she understood her mate’s position with a clarity that was almost scary.

Hunter needed to take care of the Pride, and as his Nari, she felt the same need. Smiling at them, Elissa stood up and indicated the table laden with food.

“Hunter, why don’t you eat while I get some coffee on to go with the pies I made? I’ll bring them out in a few. Oh, do you like coffee or tea?” she asked, a little embarrassed that she didn’t know which he preferred.

“You sure, baby?” Hunter asked. “I can help you---”

“Of course, I’m sure,” she answered before getting a tally of what the others wanted to drink with dessert.

“Brayden? Coffee or tea?” she asked the Bear last.

“Oh, uh, thank you ma’am. Coffee will be fine.”

“What did I say about that ma’am business?”

“Sorry, Elissa,” he lowered his head some more, and tilted it even further to the side.

Jessica had explained behavior like that to her. Brayden was bearing his neck to his leader. A sign of trust, respect, and most of all submission to Hunter’s position and dominance.

It would also serve to stop the Bear from inadvertently insulting hisNetaby addressing his mate so informally. Now, even though Jessica had explained things like that to her earlier, but there was nothing like seeing it up close and personal.

She had so much to learn, but Elissa was more than up for the task. She grabbed her cell phone from the table and slipped it into her pocket before returning to the quiet kitchen. She’d just started a large pot of coffee brewing, then dialed her roommate.

“Oh my God! Elissa, is that you?”

“Yes, Gretchen, it’s me.”

“I am so sorry! My phone died last night, and I didn’t see your messages until after I did Mrs. Little’s hair this morning. I was just beside myself! I had no idea the guy was a creep!”

“It’s okay. I met someone, well, an older guy kind of gave me a lift after your would be Romeo left me stranded-”

“Oh my God! You hitchhiked? You could have died!”

“No, it’s okay, Gretchen. Look, he was a sweet old guy and he introduced me to another guy, and well, we kind of hit it off,” Elissa said evasively.

“Wait. What? You total slut.”

Elissa could practically hear Gretchen’s grin across the line.

“So, did you sleep with him? Was he any good?”

“Gretchen! I am not going to tell you that, but I think you might have to find a new roommate,” she whispered.

“Wait. Are you serious? Elissa! How am I gonna make the rent,” she wailed.

“Don’t worry. I will come up with a plan. In the meantime, I want you to come visit me. Soon, okay?”

“Aren’t you coming home for Thanksgiving?”

“I think I’ll be spending it here. I want you to come too.”

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