Page 3 of Purrfectly Kissed

The Nari would never be weak. And Jessica both loved and admired her new sister. She was genuinely happy for her brother, too.

Lucky fucker.

Sorry, Lissa, I was just lost in thought. Besides, I am not wrong. You need a ring, and my dumb brother is gonna get a smack if he doesn’t go shopping soon!

She felt Elissa’s responding laughter and joined her in her mirth.

Yeah, well, don’t you worry. He loves me and I love him. We just need to set a date.

Jessica chuffed as her Nari moved slowly through a deep pile of snow. She stretched her paws, loving the way the chilly wind sifted through her fur when Elissa yelped.

Tigers don’t yelp.

Elissa corrected Jessica.

Are you two ladies okay?

A deep, rumbling voice entered both their heads.

Jessica turned around to see a huge Black Bear ambling towards them. His coat shone deep and dark, a warm chestnut brown on the top of his head that gave way to longer, shaggier fur of deeper browns and blacks along his back and rump. He looked perfect in the woods, majestic even with the sunlight filtering through the pines.

He was enormous with claws that were easily five-inches long and razor sharp. Jessica’s heart stopped, but she shook it off. She was good at pretending she did not notice him.

But of course, he would be there. Brayden Smith, Black Bear Shifter, and Maverick Pride Beta was there to guard the Nari.

It’s not like he’d shown up for Jessica. If only, she mused, careful to keep her secret longing hidden. Truth was, ever since the big smack down with their evil former Beta, Blake, she’d been thinking nonstop about the big Bear.

One second, she’d been shoved by Blake so hard her head had cracked against the granite countertop. The next second, Brayden had come barreling in, swatting the Tiger like he was an annoying gnat. He’d picked her up and ran his hands over her from head to toe, checking and cataloguing her injuries.

She could almost feel them now. His big hands skating over her body with a gentleness she hadn’t expected from the enormous Bear.

ChapterTwo

Sighing inwardly, Jessica remembered her link, and worked double time to shield her thoughts and emotions from both Elissa and Brayden.

She didn’t need to make any more of an ass of herself. Hadn’t she done that by always running after Lance, the youngest of her brother’s guards?

But that was a whole other thing. Not the unrequited love everyone seemed to think she felt.

Why did you yelp?

Brayden asked.

Oh, no. I mean, we’re fine. Uh, I just stepped on a stone back there.

Jessica replied, and if Tigers could blush, hers would be beet red.

The Bear nodded and turned around, completely ignoring Jessica. That was pretty much par for the course these last few weeks.

Ever since that scene in the kitchen, Brayden had acted like she pretty much did not exist. Not that she understood why. Like at all.

Oh well.

If he hated her so much, Jess just would not bother him. Okay, so she’d been a little annoying with all the questions when he’d first joined the Pride.

But could she help it if he was interesting? The man was a Black Bear in a Pride full of Tiger Shifters.

She was curious. Like cats often were. It was simply part of her Tiger’s nature.

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