Page 61 of Her Purr-fect Christmas Mate

She could hear her family’s telepathy. And they could hear hers.

Don’t think about sex don’t think about sex don’t don’t don’t sex sex sex—

Her mother was the closest to her. She burst out laughing, hanging on to Peony’s father for dear life. “Oh, sweetpea,” she managed through tears of laughter. “Don’t worry about it. We’ve all been there.”

“I don’t want to know that!” Peony yelped as her parents pulled her into a hug.

“Ask Elaine about when Iris—”

*Do NOT ask me ANYTHING,*Peony’s sister-in-law demanded, her telepathic voice cutting through their parents’ laughter. *At least, not in front of Iris. She’s still embarrassed about it.*

Peony was tumbled from hug to hug as relatives spilled out of the house. By the time she got her balance enough to extricate herself, Mordecai was leaning against the car, a slash of darkness against the snowy backdrop.

Her heart filled her throat as she looked at him.I love him,she thought, then thought it again at him.*I love you.*

His crooked smile was just for her. *I heard you the first time.*

She slipped her hand into his and pulled him forward. “Mom, Dad—everyone—this is Mordecai. Mordecai—my father, Julius. And my mom, Fern.”

“A pleasure.”

“My sister Iris and her wife, Elaine . . . This is Serena, my aunt on Dad’s side, and her other brothers . . . My grandparents . . .”

Peony glowed as Mordecai shook hands, introducing himself to her whole ridiculous family as they poured out the front door onto the wraparound porch.

Her family closed around them like a tide, carrying them inside. The house was decorated the same way it always was, with bright lights and streamers and every poorly hand-made ornament Peony and her siblings had ever excitedly brought home from school. Dinner was over, but the fridge was full of leftovers and no shifter in Peony’s family ever said no to second dinner. They crowded around the dining table, everyone shuffling places until there was room.

“So,” Peony’s mom said when they were all finally sitting down. “Tell us everything.”

Peony couldn’t keep the laughter from her voice. “Give us a chance to eat first!”

*Eat with your mouth. Dish up the story with your telepathy.*

*It’ll be good practice,*her dad added as he spooned potatoes onto Mordecai’s plate. “Help yourself to the gravy there. And what can I get you from the other end of the table? Chicken or beef? It’s only a light meal tonight. Tomorrow’s the real deal.”

Mordecai raised his eyebrows at Peony. *This is a light meal?*

*Of course. Look at it. There isn’t even a goose.*

She didn’t bother aiming her telepathy strictly at him, and from the laughter that rippled around the table, everyone heard. She didn’t care. And she didn’t care that they must be able to sense her feelings, as well, and the stray ripples of happiness and odd thoughts that popped into her head as she sat so close to her mate their elbows touched.

I’m so happy. So proud to have you as my mate. So glad to be here with everyone and with you.

She wanted them to know exactly how wonderful he was. How perfectly they fit. How finding him had helped her find herself.

And from the fond brushes from their minds, strangely new but utterly familiar, they understood.

He was her mate, and she’d brought him home.

The post-dinner coma found them all staggering into the living room to collapse on an assortment of sofas and beanbags. Peony fell gracelessly onto an old armchair and then grumbled as Mordecai picked her up, sat down, and arranged her on his lap.

“How are you coping?” she murmured as she nestled into him. Shedidwant this to be a relatively private conversation, and even with shifter hearing, whispering was safer than accidentally fog-horning everyone’s minds.

“Better than I’d expected.” His eyes drooped to half-mast. “Don’t ask me to recall anyone’s names right now.”

“I wouldn’t be that mean.”

“Sweetpea?” her mom called.

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