Graham stilled. Dougal’s fists clenched, and he looked shaky and sick, but he was alive and whole, not a pulp of Shifter dust on the ground. “I bet Muriel sent her,” Graham said, but distantly.

“Probably,” Dougal said. “Misty stood up to her though. Told her to stay out of your business.”

Graham pinned Misty with a hard stare. She stared right back at him, straight into his eyes. Graham didn’t like lesser beings who met his gaze, but Misty always had. He’d cut her some slack because she was human and didn’t understand what the gesture meant, but the fact that she could do it intrigued him. Not many humans could withstand Graham’s stare.

“Did you look at Jan when you said that to her?” Graham asked Misty. “The way you look at me?”

“Yes.” Misty’s brows drew down in puzzlement. “Where else would I be looking? The trees? She was ready to pounce on me—I thought I should keep my eye on her.”

Graham relaxed a little, his worry receding even if his thirst didn’t. “Dougal.”

Dougal flushed, but his eyes held defiance. “I’m not apologizing to Jan.”

Misty looked perplexed. “Why should Dougal apologize? Jan was the one threatening me. Dougal was just trying to help. Never let a bully get away with it, I always say. They’ll just bully you some more.”

Graham laid his large hand on Dougal’s shoulder and yanked the young man into a hard hug. Dougal was shaking, but his shakes lessened as Graham held him close.

Graham released him after a few moments and patted his shoulders again. Dougal stepped back, wiping his eyes, but he stood a little straighter.

Misty had her hands on her hips. “What just happened?”

“Dougal went up in dominance,” Graham said. “Thank you, Misty.”

Misty was staring at him again. “What did I do?”

“Gave him the opportunity. And you showed your dominance too. I’m proud of both of you.”

Misty kept staring. Any other Shifter would blush and show their pride at his praise. Misty only looked bewildered. “This is a Shifter thing I don’t understand, isn’t it?”

Graham put his hand on her shoulder. “Let me put it this way—you’ve just made my life a little easier. If Jan let herself get out-dominated by a human and a cub past his Transition, her alpha might keep her mating needs away from me.” Jan’s father was ambitious, which was why he’d sent Jan over to Graham’s to fight him and “lose,” so Graham would show his dominance by sexing her. Nice try.

“Anyway,” Misty said, as though the very important issue had been a side note. “Is this the basement the cubs found? It’s dark down here. Anyone bring a flashlight?”

Dougal snorted. “Humans.”

“She’s a guest,” Graham said firmly. Moving up in dominance did not mean Dougal got to be a rude shit. “Look around for ones the humans might have left.”

Dougal growled a little, but he walked away, the cubs scampering after him.

“Misty,” Graham said.

Misty stood her ground. She’d moved her hands from her hips to fold them across her chest again. “I’m not going back.”

“I know you’re not, because you’re an obstinate human woman who doesn’t understand danger.”

Graham stepped close to her, unable to keep himself from her any longer. Her scent filled him, her honey-spice that was even stronger after last night’s intimacy. She’d bathed, but if she thought rubbing herself with the soap he used every day made her scent more distant, she was wrong. Now she smelled like him, his house, his bed, things that were a part of him.

Misty looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty, confusion, and determination all mixed together. He liked that she could follow many trains of thought at once. Lupine women could be boringly single-minded.

Graham had to kiss her. Couldn’t stop himself.

Her eyes softened as Graham bent to her, her lips parting for his. Misty’s hands went to his chest, fingertips pressing into his shirt as Graham cupped her shoulders and pulled her up to him.

As soon as their lips touched, Graham’s determined gentleness evaporated. He needed her. Pushing her away had grown too difficult, which scared the hell out of him.

Misty tasted of minty toothpaste, and herself. Graham opened her mouth with his, pressing her into his arms. He wanted her now, on the ground, in the dirt, her legs wrapped around him. He’d slide deep inside her and not come out until he’d satisfied himself again and again.

The longing swirled in his brain and through his body. Her kiss was as needy as his, but more tender. Misty kissed him for kissing’s sake, as though she didn’t care if it led to anything else. She simply liked kissing him.

Graham liked kissing her. He licked behind her lower lip, caught her tongue between his teeth and gently bit. Misty laughed when he let go, then Graham scooped her up to him and started again.

Misty’s body flowed into his, she softening to fit every plane of him. Graham ran his hands down her back to her bu**ocks under her loose skirt. Firm and sweet, like her, but soft enough for caresses. Her br**sts flattened against his chest, unfettered behind her tank top. She hadn’t bothered to put on her bra this morning.

Shifter women rarely wore bras, so the fact Misty had left hers off shouldn’t have shot Graham’s c**k into the hardest hard-on he’d had since . . . well, since last night. He skimmed his hands inside her shirt, Graham’s kiss intensifying as he drew his palms up to cup her br**sts.