Misty couldn’t speak. She’d been staring at Graham’s muscled back, which tapered to a firm mound of bu**ocks. Now he faced her, which meant she saw his equally firm torso, his strong arms, and the c**k that hung, thick and long, between his legs.
Graham was a large man, his body sculpted for running, hunting, fighting. No polished edges on him. He was raw, rippling with strength, beautiful.
“Misty, what the hell is this?” he demanded.
Graham’s voice was gravelly from all the snarling, the hint of the wolf still in it. And he sounded dry. Thirsty.
“I found the cubs,” Misty said, making herself raise her gaze from his hips. “Obviously.”
Graham’s eyes narrowed. “Is that what you were trying to tell me on the phone?”
“No. I didn’t find them until I went out to my parking lot. I was trying to tell you something else on the phone, but you hung up on me.”
“Because I was looking for these damned cubs!”
Graham reached for them. Kyle and Matt shrank back, whining, clinging to Misty. One of them had climbed onto her head, his claws raking through her hair.
“Who are terrified of you,” Misty said. “Look at them. What did you do to them? Ow, Matt—or Kyle—stop that. Which is which?”
“Kyle,” Graham said, pointing to the cub on her head. “Matt.” His finger moved to the other one.
“Why are they so scared of you?” Misty asked. Not that she hadn’t seen Graham a few moments ago terrorize another large wolf into cringing submission.
“I don’t know. Where did you find them? That’s not your car.”
“Nothing gets past you, does it?” Misty tried to cuddle Matt and pet Kyle so they’d quit with the clawing. “Matt and Kyle were in the back of that car. One of the DX Security men found them in there when he was at the end of his shift. No idea how they got there—his car didn’t leave the lot all day.”
Graham looked over the dark red hatchback with its curvy lines and dented fender, his brows drawing together. “That belongs to a guy from DX Security?”
“It’s his mom’s. He was borrowing it for the day. I told him I’d bring the cubs back to you. Well, actually, I just grabbed his keys while he and the others were debating how to return the cubs, and I brought them back. I figured you’d be worried.”Misty decided worried wasn’t a strong enough word. Most of the Shifters were relaxing now, especially the wildcats, who were changing back to human form, strolling home, or loping off in their animal forms. Kyle and Matt were all right, and Graham apparently wasn’t going to kill anyone over it, at least not now. The Lupines who’d confronted Misty were still there, but not looking directly at her or Graham.
“Did they think I’d kidnapped them?” Misty asked Graham. “Or that I would hurt them? I never would.” She raised her voice to carry to the others. “I’d never hurt them. Or any kids. Or cubs.”
“They know that in here.” Graham tapped the side of his forehead. “At least, they should. But instinct is a bitch. They see someone with cubs who’ve been missing, and they want to kill first, ask questions later. But they won’t do it again.”
“I called when I was on my way,” Misty said. The cubs were calming now, tails moving a little as she petted heads. “But you wouldn’t answer your phone.”
“I was a wolf, trying to hunt a scent. Had to leave my phone at home.” He turned to someone behind Misty, across the street. “Nell! Come and take these brats. I need someone to look after them for me.”
“Forget it, Graham!” the large, dark-haired woman yelled back. “I don’t have time, and I don’t have room. You have that huge house with only you and your nephew. You take them.”
Graham put his hands on his hips. “Wait, I can’t raise twin cubs and run Shiftertown!”
Nell turned her back, put her arm around the huge man, Cormac, and walked away with him. “Suck it up, Graham,” Nell said. Cormac looked back at him and grinned.
“Shit.” Graham folded his large arms and glared at the two cubs, whose tails had started moving faster.
Behind Graham, his Lupines watched, faces softening in relief, but they were still wary. Misty realized that while Graham could stamp around and let himself be made fun of, he’d showed that, when need be, his word was law. His Shifters disobeyed at their peril.
“Don’t think you two can get out of this by being cute,” Graham said to the cubs. “Bring them, Misty. We need to talk.” He growled as he turned away. “Hell, now you’ve got me saying it.”
• • •
Graham threw open the door of his house, went inside, and signaled Misty to follow. No one was in the kitchen, but the place was the disaster area he’d left. Misty stopped, looking around in dismay.
“The servants all quit,” Graham said, deadpan.
Misty stood motionless while Matt and Kyle crawled down her and dropped to the floor. No longer afraid, they started running in circles between Misty and Graham, chasing each other, fear forgotten.
What Graham liked about all this was that Misty wasn’t shying away from his nakedness. She wasn’t exactly staring at his goods, but she didn’t avert her eyes, flush, turn away, or yell at him to please get dressed.
Graham was the one who left, to step into the living room and grab some sweatpants he’d left in there. He didn’t mind Misty seeing everything, but if his thoughts kept rampaging, he’d never hide his growing hard-on.