Page 4 of Purrfectly Kissed

Nowadays, he had no time for foolish females. He was the Beta, second to only Hunter in power and dominance.

Jessica shivered just thinking about all that muscle and strength. He was so tall and wide, covered in thick ropes of muscle. A real mountain of a man. Big enough to make a thick girl like her feel tiny.

And wasn’t that something?

She exhaled a puff of air in the cold woods, whipping her tail back and forth as they neared the Pride House. She should have been thinking about work, her boutique, anything else. But her thoughts were all about Brayden Smith, the sinfully gorgeous Black Bear Shifter who didn’t even know she was alive.

Sad chuff.

After they shifted to their skin, separately, of course, she watched him through lowered lids. His brown hair was thick and wavy on the top of his head, much like his bear’s.

He wore a close-cropped beard she was dying to get her hands on at all times. But what she loved most were his near black eyes. Sometimes, when his emotions were heightened, they glittered like obsidian glass.

But now, when he was fresh from his Change, the color was so rich and warm, like fresh roasted espresso beans. There was something sad about them, though. Like he always held himself at a distance.

Maybe it was because he was a Bear in a Pride full of pussies.

Snort.

Jessica sobered quickly. Most likely, his reserve was due to a particularly disturbing rumor she’d heard about him years ago.

Jessica’s heart squeezed in sympathy, hurting for the big, beautiful man. She might dream about mates and true love’s kiss, but he’d had all that. Much to her own dismay.

Brayden Smith had had a true mate, and he’d lost her. It was a tragic accident, as far as Jessica knew.

He’d been at work when the young Sow had went driving during a freak thunderstorm. Jessica didn’t know the details, only that the woman had hit a slick in the road and had gone careening into a tree at full speed. She’d died upon impact.

That said, Jessica supposed it was only natural for him to be reticent around females. Not that there were many in the Maverick Pride.

As a whole, there were maybe fifty or sixty Pride mates, and out of that, maybe a dozen and a half were females. And again, only a little more than half of those were of age to find a mate.

Needless to say it had been lonely for Jessica growing up in Maverick Point. It was probably the reason Brayden liked the place.

No swarm of women following him around, throwing themselves at his spectacularshoesize fifteenfeet. He’d even turned down Pamela Brown.

Lance had told her so. Pamela was a female Tiger in the Maverick Pride. The woman seemed hard and was always a little too stuck up to be friends with Jess. She thought she was a gift from the gods. The way she threw herself at all the men just because she was skinny and tall.

Hmmpf.

Jessica’s she-Cat was not approving of the female. Even when they were children, Pamela was different. Mean and a little bullying. But she was part of the Pride, so Jess tolerated her. As the Neta’s sister, it was her duty to be above the petty squabbles the other females engaged in.

Sometimes that really sucked. Like big time.

Especially when they were all pining to be just another notch in the bedposts of so many of the males. Especially her brother’s guards.

Pierce, Lance, Reg, Mikey, and Brayden were all very sought after. Not to mention Hunter himself, who’d been on themost wantedlist since he ascended to his position.

Luckily, Elissa had arrived just in time. Jessica still could not believe she used to chase Lance around like some love-struck cub.

Heat burned her cheeks at the memory. The Tiger had been kind, but firm in letting her know he didn’t see her that way. She saw he was right immediately, and Jessica was more than fine with just being friends.

Really, she was. She was just lonely.

Oh well, she would not be throwing herself at him again. But Jessica still wanted a mate. There was just one problem, where was she going to find an eligible man?

She knew better than to moon over the big Bear Shifter. Even though his lips looked unbelievably soft and kissable. His body was definitely nibble-able.

Was that even a word?

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