Free Junglecat Honeymoon: Manhattan Ten, Book 3.5 by Lola Dodge Page A

would require refreezing. I planned to keep him close enough that it wouldn’t cause much difficulty.
    Panther lifted me from my feet. I looped my arms over his shoulders, crushing our mouths together. His heat bled into me, filling me with impossible delight.
    The crowd—small, but loyal—cheered. The Manhattan Ten were decked in their finest, and their sincere smiles were everything I’d never had before I joined the crew.
    Acceptance. Friendship. Love.
    I brushed away another dusting of crystals at the corners of my eyes. No more perfect moment could exist in this world.
    Panther pressed me close. “Race you to the honeymoon suite?”
    A passionate whisper and the thrill of a competition; the man knew all of my soft spots. “The party is first…” I could’ve been persuaded to skip, but Angel glowed. I couldn’t waste her efforts, even if I needed to be alone with my gorgeous husband as soon as possible.
    My husband. Just thinking the word sparked a bout of flurries.
    “Soon enough.” Pan took my hand and I shivered.
    We stepped off the altar together and Panther’s mother, Poya, approached. She was half her son’s size, with orange-tinged brown eyes and the hint of panther whiskers. I hadn’t thought through in-laws when I agreed to marry, but no one could be worse than my own mother.
    At least she hadn’t tried to kill me yet.
    “ Niño .” She hugged Panther tight, letting loose a rapid burst of something older than Spanish.
    He responded firmly, then kissed the top of her head. “It’s already done.”
    Ominous.
    She didn’t look disappointed per se, but I would have to enroll in language classes as soon as possible if I wanted to avoid being talked about. “I’m happy you could come.”
    “But of course. We will speak together at the party.” Poya looked me up and down with her appraising panther eyes. “We must become more familiar.”
    I could stare down a polar bear and smile, but facing my husband’s mother was more stressful than stalking a predator. “I look forward to that.”
    Somehow, I’d have to win her over. Panther would be in my life for as long as I lived, and his family was mine now.
    A gowned figure slipped into my sight line, and Angel captured me in a hug.
    “Congratulations!”
    Angel’s timing was as perfect as ever. If I had to bear much more scrutiny, the indoor snowflakes would become a blizzard. I couldn’t help but admire my friend, for both her abilities and beauty—her ice-blue bridesmaid gown hugged her curves perfectly and she’d picked the dresses, flowers and even the location to match my tastes. “Thank you. Everything is flawless.”
    “Are you sure?” Angel pulled me a bit to the side, eying Panther’s mother. “I overheard something about a ‘more traditional ceremony’?”
    Panther met my gaze, sparking a flash of joy. “Everything will be fine.” Although I wanted our family relations to be as strong as possible, Panther’s mother lived somewhere in South America. Panther and I had no plans to separate or stray from New York, so we wouldn’t be likely to see her again soon.
    The rest of the Manhattan Ten crowded near, offering their congratulations one by one. It was Jenny—Temptress—who finally shivered in the icy cathedral. “I heard something about a party?”
    “Onward to the venue.” Angel stepped between Jet and Nil, tugging the long-haired pretty boy and hulking mountain toward the door as if they were children. “And no one harass the press.” Camera flashes bloomed as the door opened and closed.
    I plucked Steel’s sleeve when he moved to follow. “Can you entertain my mother-in-law?” I wanted Pan to myself, and Steel loved to flirt. The billboard-modeling blond might be charismatic enough to keep her distracted.
    “I love an older woman.” He winked and moved to Panther for an introduction.
    Incorrigible, but not irredeemable.
    As everyone began to filter out, a wide-eyed Christian priest popped out from one of