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

the alcoves. “Before you leave, could someone…?” His gaze flicked from the icicles on the ceiling to the floor of glittering frozen roses. He’d allowed us to rent the space on short notice, but likely hadn’t expected such a scene.
    Although I may have overdone the decorations.
    I focused my mind on the offending ice, pulling it back inside me until I flushed with chill. The frigid flowers disappeared in puffs of condensation and the cathedral returned to normal, if a few degrees colder.
    The temperature would warm, but I’d never forget my memories of this day, and I couldn’t wait to start making a new history with the man at my side. After Steel exited, escorting Panther’s mother, Panther and I were finally alone.
    “Did you just set up my mom?” He slipped his arm around my waist.
    “I may have.” And I’d do the same again. Jet was even prettier than Steel. “Are you sure she approves?”
    “ Diosa .” Pan trailed his nose along the line of my neck. “I approve. She is a lovable but stubborn panther lady who’s only slightly miffed that we wouldn’t hold the ceremony in the jungle.”
    “Do you wish we’d done it her way?” Angel had planned everything and all I’d contributed were the decorations. It hadn’t seemed important as long Pan and I could be united. Now that I’d experienced it, I was impossibly grateful to her for making it such a special occasion. Not even Poya’s disapproval could tarnish that.
    “The amenities are embarrassing out there.” He gently bit my ear, waking a wave of shivers that had nothing to do with the cold. “Besides, the wedding was for our friends. I only care about you…” His hands roved downward, pulling me against his body. “And the honeymoon.”
    My response was instinctive. Our lips met and I fell into him, basking in his heat as the kiss deepened, and deepened—
    The priest cleared his throat.
    Panther saluted him. “Don’t mind us, Padre .”
    I warmed from Pan rather than embarrassment. Cathedral or not, I couldn’t be shamed by our bond. “Let’s make an appearance at the party.” A brief appearance.
    “Ready for this?” He took my hand. Together, we pushed open the doors.
    A barrage of camera flashes hit us like a wall of white ice. Photographers leaned over the barrier that cordoned the path between the church and our car. Television anchors shouted with their microphones, and beyond the line of news vans, a crowd of fans roared.
    “Race?” I practically had to shout, but Panther heard.
    “You can’t win in those heels.” So he said, but his grin told me the challenge was accepted.
    “Can’t I?”
    “In three, two, one!”
    Both of us dashed. I wobbled slightly and he gained a step on me.
    Oh no you don’t.
    Letting the ice spill from me was as easy as breathing. Icy blades grew on the bottom of my heels as runners of frost slicked the carpet.
    The crowd exploded and I smiled. On skates, I couldn’t lose. My fingertips touched the car a fraction before Pan’s did.
    “Cheater.” He grinned, already opening the door and shielding me from the cameras.
    “I didn’t put ice on your side of the carpet.” That would’ve negated the whole competition.
    He helped jam my skirts into the car and dove in behind me, slamming the door. “That’s why I love you.” As he pushed aside the fabric, his yellow hunter’s eyes glowed. “One reason, at least.”
    Pan fell on top of me. If it was him, I didn’t mind being hunted.
    After steak dinner at Del Frisco’s, our party relocated to a posh nightclub. Angel had bought out the VIP section for the evening, and New York already knew—the line stretched to the end of the block and out of sight. Even in the street, bass thumped.
    I glanced at Panther’s mother. “Maybe this isn’t…”
    “It’s quieter inside.” Angel tugged me through the doors. The entrance split. Rather than entering the writhing dance club, we took the elevator up to a cushy lounge. It was insulated