Page 10 of Purrfectly Kissed

“So,” Jessica said, eyebrows raised.

“So,” Brayden responded not so cleverly.

Dammit. Why the hell did she short-circuit his brain now of all times? Brayden wished he could leave the room and come back in again. But then he’d have missed seeing her sweet body.

And boom.

There went his cock again. Instant hard on.

“Uh…”

He knew he needed to say something, anything to keep things from getting any more awkward.

Thankfully, before things could get weirder between the two of them, he heard the sound of someone coming.

Great. More people to witness his idiocy. Maybe he could excuse himself now without looking like a coward for running away from the sweet she-Cat. Turning to see who approached with a smile, Brayden froze in place.

Shit.

He was stuck in the room for certain now. In walked the person he wanted to see least of all.

Uncle Uzzi Stregovich.

The magical matchmaking motherfucker who was there to ruin Brayden’s damn life. Jess’s face lit up, and Brayden frowned. Why was she so happy to see the old Witch?

“Uncle Uzzi! You’re back! I am so glad to see you,” she gushed, running forward to embrace the bearded Witch.

“Hello again, my dear. You look lovely, yes,” he replied, kissing her cheek.

And it was not until that moment that Brayden realized he’d been holding his breath. When he released it, the growl that expelled from his lips was intense, causing both Uzzi and Jess to back away from each other. Both Witch and Tiger stared at him for a moment before the old man clapped his hands.

“Well, this is going to be fun!” Uncle Uzzi announced.

His blue eyes were twinkling with glee and no small hint of magic. Jessica tucked her hair behind her ears, and Brayden just stood there.

Grrrrrr.

ChapterFive

“So, Beta Brayden Smith. And you, Jessica Maverick. What were you two doing when I walked in?” Uncle Uzzi asked with a sly smile as he entered the room.

“Just chatting,” Jess replied in a rush.

“Well, I don’t believe in accidents, and my liebling would say this is positively fortuitous,” the Witch replied.

Hunter and Elissa walked in just after the enigmatic man. Hand in hand as usual, they greeted the older, and much shorter male Witch, with hugs and handshakes.

The ruling Alpha couple of the Maverick Pride were smiling, unable to take their eyes off each other. Their love story was something of a fairytale, the stuff of legends and immeasurable envy, he’d hazard a guess.

That kind of devotion was simply too good to be a common occurrence. Unattainable for anyone else, at least as far as Brayden was concerned.

His animal growled at him. He didn’t like the insinuation that he would never have that kind of love. Not one little bit. The beast clawed at his skin in response, wanting out.

Brayden counted to ten in an effort to calm his Bear. It was nearly impossible. Especially when a picture of Jessica’s scantily clad bottom flashed in his mind again. Was the image permanently burned inside his brain?

Yes, his Bear growled.

Fuck me, his human half returned.

---