The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 110: Chapter 110

Javier nursed his cup of coffee and waited for Uncle Uzzi to join him in the sitting room of the enormous penthouse suite he rented looking over Central Park. The old Witch had accompanied Javi back to New York City last night, though he was certain the old man had at least gotten some sleep, whereas all Javi did was roam the cold streets alone.
There was nothing quite like New York at Christmastime. The city was a magical place, but during December, it practically hummed with energy.
Uzzi had left him some pretty specific instructions late that night, and Javier had followed. He was checked out of his room and had alerted his storage company to get all his belongings packed and ready at a moment’s notice.
Anyone else would have been told to fuck off, but not Javier Auberon. When he said jump, smart people asked how high. It was one of the benefits of being wealthy and having a good reputation. Javi not only tipped well, but he tended to hire employees on the go.
If he met someone while traveling who was efficient, pleasant, and seemed like good people, Javier would offer a place at Auberon Industries. The salaries his company offered were competitive, and his healthcare packages unbeatable. Healthy staff meant productive staff. It was the first rule of running a sound business.
But his mind was not on his company at that moment. Javi’s brain kept going over what had occurred between himself and the beautiful Pamela. It had been the best night of his life, but she left.
Uncle Uzzi had a shit ton to say to Javier about his not so brilliant plan to sex his way into Pamela’s heart. He’d been thinking with his dick, and not his brain—but it did not matter in the least to Javier. He’d claimed the tender beauty as his own and had no intentions of tucking tail and running away.
He hated to argue with his uncle, but there was no way he would abandon her. He had nothing to do and nowhere else to be. His mate was his one and final destination.
“There, that is better,” Uzzi walked into the room, buttoning his sharp wool coat and tossing a long red scarf around his neck.
He’d always been a snazzy dresser, and Javi nodded his approval. Uzzi smiled sadly at him, and his Bear bellowed mournfully inside. The old Witch knew he was hurting too much to feel anything other than pain. His beast was positively desperate to track down his mate.
She belonged with him. Didn’t she see that?
Bloody hell.
How had he fucked up so completely? Didn’t even get her name until Uncle Uzzi had told it to him. He’d behaved like an animal, and he was deeply ashamed of himself. Javier should’ve treated her gently. Gotten to know her better first. Well, the least he should’ve done was ask her name before he had his face buried between her legs.
Memories of their night together plagued him for the past twelve hours, and Javi missed her with an ache he could not describe. It was like losing a limb. He felt her absence keenly. She was already bonded to him and his Bear.
Now that he’d had a taste of heaven, Javi wanted more. He wanted her with a hunger he’d never felt. Needed to be close to her, to know she was with him.
Fuck, was he crazy? To want someone all the time? He knew it was only going to get worse before it got better. Pamela Brown was his soulmate, his other half, the only woman in the world who spoke to him and his Bear, but he had tried to win her over with sex, and now he would have to earn her trust.
“Javi, focus. Hank, my driver, is here,” Uncle Uzzi snapped his fingers in his face, and Javi followed him out the door and into the elevator like the lovesick fool he was.
“Uncle Uzzi, please, help me win Pamela’s trust and, more importantly, her heart,” Javier said, and wiped a hand over his face.
The city lights faded away in the face of his desperation, and Javier ignored the sounds of the crowds and honking horns around them.
“In time, Javi.”
He dropped into the backseat with Uzzi as Hank pulled out onto the highway, the engine of the sleek limo purring gently, reminding him of his little wild cat.
Fuck, I miss her.
“There is no time. I have to get her back. Tell me how, please,” he begged.
“Javier, I love you dearly, but you know it isn’t polite to stick your dick in a woman before you explain a few things first,” Uncle Uzzi said, his sapphire gaze sparking mad as it landed on Javi.
“Uncle Uzzi, please be respectful. She is my mate,” he moaned.
“Who me, disrespectful? Dear boy, you are the one who took his dick, stuck it in the woman—whose name you did not bother to get—exploiting her heat cycle for your own gain. Then, let’s see, you bit her neck. Claiming her for your Bear, and you expected her to jump for joy. Does that sum it up? Stupido!” Uzzi zapped him and Javi clenched his teeth. Fuck, but he deserved it.
“I fucked up. I know. But I love her⁠—”
“Did you ever think she had a reason for saying no, osito? Ever consider there was something in her past she needed to confront first?”
Fuck.
No. To be honest, Javier had not considered anything like it. He started to panic, wondering what she had in her past that would make her deny her fated mate. Oh shit. Oh fuck. What could it be?
Stupid impatient motherfucker.
“What do you mean, Uncle Uzzi? Is it another man? She did not wear a mating mark, I’d have sensed it, but if she was involved, I’ll, I’ll⁠—”
Tear the motherfucker limb for limb, his unhelpful bear supplied.
“Calm your fur, osito. There has been no boyfriend for the last year or so. Though there is someone important in her life. Just be patient with her. Not everyone has had your charmed life,” he said, drumming his fingers on his knee before he continued.
“Who is he?” Javier growled, his voice deep with his Bear.
If it was a Shifter, Javi would issue a formal challenge for the right to pursue his mate. Pamela was not a possession, but fuck yes, he wanted to possess her. It was a Shifter thing. He would always celebrate her independence, as long as he could be there when she needed him. Her comfort and happiness were everything to him. If there was a man, Javier would happily prove he was the better of the two. No matter what it took.
“Pamela has had a rough time of it, but thanks to her friends and the members of her Pride, she has really made incredible strides for a better life for herself—and for her son.”
“What? Did you say—son?”
Javier couldn’t stop the growl that followed the word. It wasn’t that he didn’t like children, on the contrary, but he never imagined his mate would already have a child. Strange feelings rose inside him. He’d expected jealousy and maybe anger, but all he got was, well, curiosity. A deep, burning need to meet the boy, to make sure he was alright.
A son. She has a son. We have a son.
“Whose child is it?”
“He is her child, osito. And don’t act like a possessive asshole in heat, Javi. Paulie is one of the sweetest little Tiger cubs I have ever met,” Uncle Uzzi said, and his eyes glowed at the mention of the young boy.
“Of course, I did not mean it that way. I love kids, and my Bear is a little possessive right now. He is already calling the boy ours,” he explained.
“Good. Cause that is non-negotiable. Paulie is part of the deal.”
“Yes. As he should be, a little prince,” he murmured, already picturing the things he would show the boy with his mother’s permission, of course. “My Bear wants young, and any cub of Pamela’s is my own as well, if she will have me,” Javier said, wishing with everything inside him that he could make it so. His Bear chuffed softly, already staking his claim on the unseen child.
Amazing that the second Uncle Uzzi had mentioned a cub, his Bear had seemed to take the idea of the cub as his own. The only thing that bothered him was thinking of another male’s hands on his Pamela. Idiot. She was not a virgin when they met, and neither was he. He had no right to expect that, and Javi scolded the Bear. He loved the woman as she was, it did not matter how she got there. Only that it made her stronger, happier, better—simply perfect for him in every way.
“So, let’s talk about homes. You said you were moving to the states. Now, Maverick Point, New Jersey, is quite the ideal little town. Here, I printed some pictures for you of properties, and this is the number for a local real estate agent.”
Uncle Uzzi handed him a red folder and Javi grinned at the man. Brilliant. This was exactly what he needed—a den, a place to plant roots, to prove he was serious about his commitment. Pamela needed her Pride, so he would move to where they lived.
“Uncle Uzzi, you are a genius.”
“I know, osito,” the old Witch said calmly. “Now, why don’t you find a home that would be suitable for a family—your family. That is, if you’re lucky,” Uzzi finished, and the confounded man shook his head as if he had his doubts.
No matter. Uncle Uzzi could bet against him, but Javier was not losing her. He made a vow right then and there to do anything he could to make Pamela see that he was the only man for her.
Whatever happened in her past, it was just that. He was sorry she had been hurt, wished like hell he could have stopped it. But the best he could do now was to ensure Pamela and her sweet cub were safe from here on out.
Love. Mate. Mine. Cub.
His Bear chuffed and pawed at the ground inside the metaphysical plane where he waited to be freed. Yes, they would be home soon, then he would let him out for a bit.
I am going to love you so much, Pamela Brown. You and Paulie. Starting now. And I will prove myself to you, my naughty little minx.
You’re the only thing on my list this year, querida. Naughty or nice, here I come.