Page 8 of Purrfectly Naughty

Chapter 4

“Gerri really outdid herself,” a slender woman said as she walked by and pointed at the décor.

Javi had to agree. The mansion looked like a winter wonderland in his humble opinion. There were twinkle lights everywhere and real pine garland with velvet bows and sparkles. There was no mistaking his aunt’s love for the season. It showed in every corner of the place from the large snowmen and reindeer displays, to the small snowflake-shaped ice cubes that floated in the drinks.

The Christmas decorations were a mix of traditional and new age, and he had to hand it to his Aunt Gerri, she was simply a master at this. Hosting parties, decorations, food, music, were some of her many talents.

He recalled the times when she’d come to visit them down in Quito and helped his mother arrange parties and events for their neighbors. Yes, she was a wizard.

The sheer number of smiling guests attested to that. It was certainly impressive. He wondered if all the couples had her to thank for their seemingly happy arrangements. More than likely, he decided.

There must have been three-hundred people, Shifters and normals, in the large ballroom. He smiled and introduced himself to a few of them who seemed nice enough.

Truth be told, Javier did not really like large crowds. Like most Andean Bear Shifters, he was a solitary sort of man. He admired the couples who seemed to ignore everyone else as they held hands and twirled along the dance floor.

So many happy pairs. He didn’t like feeling envious of anyone, in fact, he often made it a point not to, but for one brief moment he couldn’t help it. Maybe he would take Gerri up on her offer after all. Maybe it was time to settle down.

Mate, chuffed his Bear.

At first, he thought it was his silly beast pushing his own agenda into Javier’s brain. But then, without any warning at all, Javier’s skin began to burn.

He felt hot all over and his Bear was growling incessantly inside of him. His heart beat heavily inside his chest like a jackhammer trying to break through his custom-tailored suit.

Inside his mind’s eye, he saw his Bear stand on his hindlegs, his familiar spectacled face serious as the growl that built up inside of his chest exploded through his lips. Those nearest him turned, and Javi quickly cut off the sound.

Then it hit him, the most delicious fragrance he had ever smelled. His head whipped around to find the location of that cinnamon sugar scent. It was so familiar to him and yet he knew he’d never come across it before.

Like freshly made bunuelos, his favorite holiday dessert. Javier’s mouth watered even as he recognized the scent was not coming from any of the trays the waitstaff were passing around to the crowd.

Following his nose, Javier had to bite back his roar when he found the source of the tantalizing fragrance.

Mine.

The stunning female was surrounded by two males, one on either side of her luscious figure. The fact that she appeared disinterested, bored even, as they tried and failed to engage her attention was the only thing that saved those two men from being mauled by his beast.

Taking a moment to regain control over his Bear, Javier raked the luscious beauty from head to toe with his gaze. She stood about five-foot nine-inches tall which put her half a foot shorter than himself. Perfect for reaching down to nuzzle her sinfully sexy little mouth, he thought, and smiled at the way her top lip was slightly fuller than the lower.

He could not wait to spend hours just nibbling on them. Her body was curvy and splendid, gloriously outlined by the gown she wore. The neckline was a plunging v that left her high, full breasts covered by two scraps of iridescent material. The rest of the dress had an empire waist with a long skirt that fell to her ankles in layers of more of that same mesmerizing fabric.

Bloody hell, his pants grew tight around the sudden hardness lurking within. He was desperate to get closer to the beauty.

Yes, she was beautiful. Simply stunning really. It was as if she’d been draped by a piece of the night sky. as if the gods themselves had known she was much too special for any earthly material.

She was enough to stop a man’s heart dead in his chest, he thought while trying to bite down on the possessive growl that threatened to leave his throat.

The woman smiled politely, but he saw through the façade. She was not at all entertained.

Poor darling, he thought gazing at the sexy and lithe vixen. Her voluptuousness was droolworthy and had caught many of the attending Shifters’ eyes, to Javi’s immediate consternation. But, like the two idiots surrounding her, she ignored them.

The would-be-suitors attempted to tell a joke, but his sweet mate’s smile went cold. It did not quite reach her eyes, and Javi’s Bear scratched at his skin once more as he took in the situation.

She would continue to be bored with them. This he knew for fact. His querida was not having a good time at all. He should remedy that. The beautiful woman was not there for them, he grinned knowingly. She was his.

Mine, confirmed his inner beast in a deep resounding growl that resonated in his soul.

“Thank you, Aunt Gerri,” he whispered and his mind flashed an image of the cunning Wolf Shifter.

He grinned at the older woman’s meddling. It seemed the brilliant matchmaker had done it again.