Page 23 of Purrfectly Naughty

After an hour of strolling around, munching on popcorn, and filling the shopping cart despite her protests, Javier smiled happily as the cashier rang them up.

“I don’t want you to think I asked you to come along to make you pay-”

“Hey,” he kissed her lips and moaned softly when she responded to the small caress immediately, leaning into him and kissing him back, “we are mates. I can feel how you feel, querida, and I know you love Paulie so much it hurts. A young innocent boy deserves to have a good Christmas.”

“Even though his father was a bastard,” she whispered and he saw the pain and doubt in her face and that, in turn, hurt him.

“Pamela, I promise you I would never judge your son or any child based on the sins of his father.”

“I believe you,” she whispered wide-eyed and Javier had never felt so damn good about three little words.

At least, not to date, but he was hoping, in time, she would say three other words to him. Words, he so desperately felt.

“I love you,” he blurted, and the cashier stopped ringing up their purchases while he looked from Pamela’s stunned face to Javier’s serious one.

“Javi-”

“Not yet,” he kissed her fingertips, “don’t say anything yet. Just know that I love you.”

“Uh, will that be cash or credit?” asked the young employee with a silly grin on his face and Pamela giggled and hugged Javier around his waist.

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