His shoulders started to relax. “I like to think I’m tenacious.”
“Oh, stupid and stubborn. That’s a great combination.”
He glanced at her hands covering his. “You did that a lot, didn’t you, while I was unconscious?”
“It helped calm you down.” She’d hugged him a lot as well, especially during the day when she slept beside him. But she didn’t tell him that. “You okay now? You’d drifted off then woke yourself up.”
“I’m okay.”
She released his hand. “Good. I have a few errands I need to run but I will be back. In the meantime, Alfonso will look in on you. You can also just shout. All the shifters at the Landing will be able to hear you.”
“The Landing. Hard Landing. Right. Alfonso shared a few things with me. But Maeve, I had no idea you’d created a full-blown rescue mission.”
She’d never told Braden the extent of her operation. She figured the less anyone knew, including a Border Patrol, the safer her people would be. She said so.
He nodded, a deep frown between his brows. “Okay. I get it. I can understand your reasoning. But I still wish you’d told me. I know how to keep a secret.”
She tilted her head. “I don’t think I appreciated until now how much your friendship has meant to me. I see now I should have told you and I wish I’d invited you in a long time ago to see what we’ve got going on here.”
Braden huffed a sigh. “On the other hand, I understand your need for secrecy, especially in Elegance.”
He was right about that. Their witch and warlock territory was all about secrecy and keeping things hidden.
“So, how many shifters…forget that. How many people do you have living here?”
“Last count, a hundred-and-fifty-three.”
“All from the Graveyard?” His brows rose.
She nodded “It’s what I do.”
“Why do you go out there yourself when it sounds like a few wolves might be a better fit for the job?”
She took it as a challenge and shoved the sleeve of her t-shirt up to her shoulder. She flexed her arm for him. “I like the work.”
His brows rose and his lips curved. “Damn, woman, you’ve got some guns.”
“Well, how the hell do you think I was able to move you? You’re not exactly a tiny thing.”
“No. I’m not.” Braden smiled and her heart quivered. His green eyes about killed her anyway. But combined with his smile? Deadly.
She drew in a deep breath and took a step back. She held up both hands. “You rest. Heal yourself. I’ll be back soon.”
He narrowed his eyes and damn if he didn’t slowly lift his bare arms and lace his hands behind his head. Now, talk about ‘guns’. “You’re not playing fair, Braden.”
“I’m not playing at all. Are you?” But his lips quirked.
“Huh.” She huffed a snort, then turned on her heel.
She felt pretty certain if she didn’t leave, she might just crawl into bed and see what else he could flex.
Before she left, however, Sheba crawled out from under the bed and trailed along beside her.
~ ~ ~
Braden once more had his eyes glued to her ass. A soft welcoming vibration traveled through his veins then landed in his lap. His hand slid beneath the sheets and he gave his arousal one long stroke.
He liked this redhead, maybe more than he was willing to admit. Besides the fact she’d saved his life, she wasn’t like any woman he’d ever known. His wolf approved of her straightforward manner and the male part of him thought her body rocked. Her snug t-shirt accentuated her full breasts and her jeans looked painted on. He could easily see her naked in his head.
