Free Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) by R. E. Butler

creature comforts. Air conditioning. Nice sheets. Food. Jobs help secure that.”
    He left the closet and gave her an incredulous look. “Of course I plan to work eventually, but shit , babe, we just met three days ago. It’s too soon for us to be apart.”
    He sat heavily next to her, and she scratched her nails lightly down his neck. “I feel like I should have a job, too.”
    “No way.”
    “I’m not a spoiled princess. Well, not anymore.”
    “I have a hard time believing that you were ever spoiled, sweetheart. You’re kind and generous, easy - going and so sweet. Spoiled people don’t act like that.”
    Geraldine had kept her grounded. In some chains, the royal family was revered to the point where they were treated like gods and goddesses. Her father had given her whatever she wanted, but Geraldine had filled in where it really counted – teaching Genesis to be a good person.
    “I still don’t want you to work, at least not right now. This is new for you , and I want you to take time to settle into our life together,” he added.
    The sincerity in his eyes made her heart clench. She’d already fallen head over heels for him, but she hadn’t spoken the words out loud. In her previous life, she’d hoped that she would someday love her arranged mate, but she knew that was a best-case scenario. There were many arranged matings that were amicable and affectionate, but not filled with love.
    “You keep looking at me like that and I’m going to stay home,” he said.
    “Sorry. I’m crazy about you, Jair. I know it’s only been a few days, but in my heart it feels like I’ve known you forever. Like my cat was missing a vital piece and I wasn’t really functioning until we met. I love you.”
    Everything seemed to freeze as he stared at her, his mouth parted and his eyes wide. “You do?”
    “Yeah. How could I not? You’re irresistible.”
    The shoe he’d been holding thudded to the floor and he hauled her across his lap, devouring her in a kiss that seared her all the way to her soul. He sucked on her bottom lip with a growl and said, “Fucking love you too, Genesis. You’re my heart, my soul, my everything.”
    He rolled her onto her back and kissed her. She felt him digging around in front of him and realized he was searching for his phone. He lifted it and pressed his thumb to unlock the screen.
    “Who are you calling?”
    “The hell I’m going into work today. You said you love me. We’ve gotta celebrate.”
    “Oh?” She laughed.
    “Yeah. Naked. Lots of naked celebrating.”
    Felix answered, and with her enhanced hearing she could hear his exaggerated sigh. “ I suppose you’re not coming in today?”
    “My mate just told me she loves me.”
    “Oh! Well, congrats. I’l l cover you today, but tomorrow, no more excuses . We’d all like to have a tempting mate at home, but the real world beckons.”
    “The real world sucks,” she whispered.
    Jair said goodbye and turned off the phone, dropping it onto the floor and giving her a rakish grin. “So we’ve only got twenty-four hours to celebrate. Is that enough?”
    “It’ll never be enough,” she promised.
     
    * * *
     
    Jair offered Genesis his arm as he escorted her from the tiny Italian bistro he’d taken her to for dinner. He’d never really had anyone teach him how to be a good mate, but he did know about good manners , and he used every bit of knowledge he had to make her feel special. Because she was.
    After settling her in the truck, he got behind the wheel and turn ed the key. “Do you want to see a movie?”
    “I’d like to shift, actually. If that would be okay?”
    He glanced at her in surprise. “Really?”
    Her brows wiggled as she smiled. “I want to see your shifted form, and my cat wants to hunt with you.”
    Nerves skated through him as he turned the truck toward home. He knew they would shift together at some point, but he hadn’t thought it would be so soon. She accepted him in the abstract – she knew