“Mate-claimed. It means—”
“I know what it means. I’ve hung around Shifters long enough.” Misty spun away from him, her skirt swishing. “It means you’re saying you want me to be your mate and do the ceremonies. And have me live with you and have your kids—cubs.” Misty ran out of breath and stopped. “Are you insane? I know everyone expects you to mate with a wolf Shifter. One of your wolves even tried to attack me, remember?”
“And she’ll be disciplined. Things are different now.”
“What things? No, they’re not.”
Graham looked into Misty’s stubborn eyes and knew the truth. Everything was different. His life had changed the moment Misty had turned to him on the barstool at Coolers and asked, You a Shifter?
“I’ve been lying to myself,” Graham said. “I thought I could keep it cool with you, go out with you for the fun of it, to enjoy being with you. Then say good-bye when I chose a mate. But I can’t. Letting you go is something I can’t do. All right?”
When Graham had mate-claimed Rita, she’d nearly passed out in shock that the son of a clan leader had chosen her, then she’d recovered and thanked him for the great honor.
Misty only stared at him and didn’t look honored at all. “You can’t change your mind like that.” Her voice was shaky. “I know your Shifters won’t shrug it off and say, Oh well, our great leader knows best. They’ll fight you.”
“I’m prepared for that.”
“I’m so glad. What about me?” Misty pressed her hands to her chest. “I’ll have to fight too. That Shifter woman—Jan—who tried to attack me, was very angry. And her Collar didn’t go off, so that won’t slow her down, will it? And what about the other women who hope they can be with someone so high in Shiftertown? I’ve learned a lot about Shifters since I started dating you. You’re a good catch, apparently, and they’re not going to step aside so I can have you.”
Graham gave her a growl. “What you don’t understand is that I’m alpha. They do what I say.”
“And what you don’t understand is how someone not alpha thinks. Sure, they’ll obey you—until they can figure out a way to get rid of me, permanently. Or replace you with someone who will do what they want.”
“And you don’t understand how leaders get chosen. I have to die before another one takes my place.”
“Exactly my point.”
Graham started to say that would never happen, but he stopped. Of course, it could happen. Challenges for leadership had occurred a lot in the wild—not to Graham, but to others. It happened less often now, but Collars were gradually coming off and some Shifters were hoping for changes. Liam Morrissey had fought his own father and won, thus replacing him as leader. Dylan Morrissey was a hard man with a lot of experience, so Liam besting him said something.
Graham didn’t think any of the Lupines here could win against him, but now Graham had been spelled by a Fae.
“They’re not going to kill me,” Graham said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Eric won’t let them.”
Then again, when Graham had arrived here last year, he’d been a total shit to Eric. But Graham had been fighting to keep his position, fearing Eric would force him out. Graham couldn’t stand the thought of having to be a kiss-ass, so he’d been a dickhead instead. Had Eric forgiven Graham enough to help him stand against his angry Shifters? Graham wasn’t sure.
“And anyway,” Misty said. “We should figure out this Fae problem first.”
“No, I want to do this mating now, before the Fae problem kills me.” Graham started to reach for Misty then forced himself not to touch her. “I want you mated to me, to know we’re bound. Don’t you think that will make me stronger?”
“No, I think it will be more distracting. Having to learn to integrate our lives, plus trying to get your Shifters to go along with it, will take a lot of work. Throw in trying to find a cure for this spell—that’s lot to put on your plate.”
“Damn it!” Graham’s roar burst out. “What distracts me is seeing you around, with your gorgeous legs, and your lips I want to suck on, and your scent driving me wild. The touch of a mate heals—did you know that? It’s why you’re up and walking around today. Andrea’s cure wasn’t working until I took it away from her and dosed you myself. I need you. Even if we get rid of this Fae, not being with you is killing me.”
He faced her, his hands clenched. Misty’s lips were parted, red and kissable.
“Graham, I want to be with you too,” she said in a rush. “But I don’t want to make things hard for you.”
“Well, too late. I’m already hard for you.” Graham grabbed her hand and pressed it against the front of his jeans. “This is what you do to me, every time I look at you.”
“That’s just lust.” Misty didn’t move her hand, which warmed his blood. “Wanting. I want you too.” She smiled a little, and Graham’s frenzy skyrocketed.
Graham gripped her shoulders. “I need you. It’s killing me. Don’t refuse the claim. Please, don’t leave me alone. Again. Please.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
The please shot into Misty’s heart.
Graham was glaring at her, looking more angry than filled with love. His fingers bit into her shoulders, his grip desperate.
Don’t leave me alone. This from a man who found it hard to admit he needed anything. Or anyone.
Misty lifted her hand away from his jeans, where his long and formidable c**k waited. She remembered the feel of it against her tongue, the warm taste of it. She touched his arm, resting it on one of the flame tattoos.
“Graham,” she whispered.
“Don’t walk away from me, Misty. I’m going to die.”
“I won’t let you,” Misty said.
Graham let out a sound like a groan. His grip grew harder still as he yanked her to him and brought his mouth down on hers.
The kisses he’d given her before had been powerful, but Misty now realized he’d been holding back a little to keep from hurting her. He’d played games with her, stopping himself from doing what he’d meant to.
Not this time. The holding back had gone. Graham had Misty against the wall in the space of two seconds. He held her solidly, his mouth on hers, while he pushed up her skirt and yanked down her underwear.