Page 71 of Her Purr-fect Christmas Mate

The Lightning Dragon's Mate.(Hideaway Cove #3)Golden-eyed dragon shifter Apollo is everything Felicity never knew she wanted—except she can’t have him. Felicity isn’t in Hideaway Cove by chance. She’s a spy, sent to uncover the town’s secrets. And what could be a bigger secret than the existence of dragons?

A Mate for the Christmas Dragon.(A Mate for Christmas #1)Jasper has five days to win his mate’s heart. Luckily, it’s Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. Unluckily… his matehatesthe holidays.

Christmas Hellhound(A Mate for Christmas #2)Can a hellhound really save Christmas?

Christmas Pegasus(A Mate for Christmas #3)Last Christmas, Jackson gave Olly his heart - and her inner owl chewed it up and spat it back at him. This Christmas, he’s determined to win herandher owl’s love. Even if she isn’t his fated mate.

The Hellhound’s UnChristmas Miracle(A Mate for Christmas #4)His past is a nightmare - and the woman of his dreams just walked into it. Can hellhound shifter Fleance save his mate Sheena from the monster who transformed him, or will they both be left forever changed?

Christmas Griffin(A Mate for Christmas #5)Every lie causes him physical pain. But if she tells the truth, she’ll lose everything. Can a Christmas miracle bring these two broken souls the love they need?

Claimed by the Panther.(Shifter Suspense #1)A curvy artist struggling with self-doubt + a panther shifter who's out of touch with his panther + a kidnapper with deadly plans = one thrilling romantic adventure!

Saved by the Billionaire Lion Shifter.(Shifter Suspense #2)A billionaire lion shifter fighting to fill the hole in his heart + a curvy reporter on an undercover assignment + an island paradise where all is not as it seems = one dangerously hot romance!

Stealing the Snow Leopard’s Heart.(Shifter Suspense #3).A stick-in-the-mud snow leopard shifter PI + an ex-thief who can’t escape her past + an adorable baby dragon who thinks they’re both part of her hoard = one sweet and sexy romance!

Special Sneak Preview

A Mate for the Christmas Dragon

Jasper

DECEMBER 20

FIVE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Jasperthuddedintothesnowbank, arms upraised to defend himself from the vicious assault.

“Raar! Raaaaar!” his nephew roared, leaping onto his chest. Jasper lowered his arms— just in time to see that Cole hadn’t jumped up empty-handed. A snowball the size of a football exploded on his face.

“Cole, leave your uncle alone!”

Jasper sat up, spitting snow, at the sound of his older sister Opal’s exasperated but loving voice. He rubbed snow out of his eyes and grinned at her. Jasper had just arrived in town, spat out of the inter-city bus with a swarm of excited Christmas vacationers. He’d caught sight of Opal and his nephew across the road, loaded down with Christmas shopping— and hadn’t even had a chance to say hello before Cole launched his attack.

It was a year since he’d seen Opal last, but she hadn’t changed a bit. Still the same dusting of freckles on her long Heartwell nose, the same bright eyes the color of the gem she was named after— and the same pleased-but-hiding-it scowl, which he was sure she saved just for him. He could just imagine how she would flick her wings at him if she was in her dragon form.

Jasper waved at his sister as Cole tried to stuff more snow down his collar. “Hey, sis. Not even an hour back in town and I’m attacked— argh, and frozen to death— by my own blood. What sort of a welcome do you call this?”

Opal rolled her eyes at him. He got the feeling if she hadn’t been laden down with shopping bags, she would have crossed her arms.

“Maybe the sort of welcome a good-for-nothin’ brother gets when he doesn’t even tell his family he’ll be home for Christmas? Where’s your car? What did you do, bus here with the rest of the tourists?” Her jewel-toned eyes flicked from side to side, and Jasper’s heart sank. He knew what she was looking for. “Oh. It’s... just you, then?” she asked, her voice smaller.

“Yeah.” Jasper didn’t want to see the look in her eyes as he admitted it. He stood up, slinging Cole over his shoulder. The little boy whooped with excitement. “Just me— and a suitcase full of presents! What do you think, buddy? Can your old uncle Jasper come stay for Christmas?”

“Yeah! Presents!” Cole jiggled happily on Jasper’s shoulder, then tugged on his ear. Jasper turned his head obediently to catch the boy’s whisper. “Can we go flying, too?”

Jasper stared into his nephew’s innocent, blue-black eyes. Inside him, his dragon shivered, but he couldn’t let his feelings show. Not in front of Cole. He grinned, and winked at him. “Go flying? You betcha, buddy.”

Opal sucked in a breath. Jasper didn’t blame her. Right now, she would be wondering whether, in a few days’ time, he’d ever be able to fly again.

He sighed. Whatever grim suspicions she was harboring, she was right to be worried. And she deserved more than him pretending everything was okay.

Jasper grabbed the handle of the suitcase he’d dropped when Cole launched his attack, and trundled over to his sister. She glared up at him, but her frown didn’t hide the tears in her eyes.

Guilt lanced through him, double-edged: one for his human side, and one for his dragon. And a hell of a lot for his sister.

“Hey,” he said softly, putting one arm around her. She elbowed him grumpily, but didn’t pull away. “It’s all right.”

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