Page 3 of Kin of the Wolf

My robe reached to my knees and was far too fluffy to be sexy, but I hadn’t cinched it that tightly… I lifted a hand, thinking of covering more of my chest, but a part of me was chuffed to have him interested. At forty-five, with two grown sons, it wasn’t as if I was the ravishing beauty of my youth. Instead, I tossed him a blanket.

“My fur is sufficient,” Duncan said. “Allof me is sufficient.”

“Uh-huh. Why don’t you cover some of thatall of you? Where are your clothes?”

“In my van.”

“Haven’t I had that towed yet?”

He grinned. “You’re at your snarky crabbiest first thing in the morning, aren’t you?”

As if I couldn’t be snarky and crabby at any hour of the day. But I took a breath and attempted to lower my hackles. I wasn’t mad at him, just flustered that he’d caught me staring at his brazen nudity.

“I didn’t get to hunt last night due to my turds of relatives showing up,” I said. “That makes a werewolf crabby.”

“Quite true. Though I did spot you with a mouse tail dangling from your lips. You huntedsomething.” A twitch of his nostrils was the only indication that he believed it had been substandard prey.

“It was a frustration mouse.” I pointed toward the kitchen, specifically at the espresso maker on the counter. “Do you want coffee?”

“Yes, but allow me to make it for you.” Ignoring the blanket I’d tossed him, Duncan rose and swept past to beat me to the kitchen. “It’s the least I can do after leaving fur on your couch.”

Afraid he would mess up my settings or break something, I grabbed his blanket and hurried to bump him to the side. “You can heat up leftovers if you want to be helpful. Or go get clothes and dress before tenants are all over the walkways with their dogs and able to witness and complain about a naked man roaming the premises.”

I looked at the windows. The days were short enough this timeof year that it wasn’t light yet at seven, but it wouldn’t be long before the dedicated dog walkers took to the paths.

Duncan touched his chest. “You think they’dcomplain?”

“Yes. There’s a no-nudity policy here.” I wrapped the blanket around his waist and tied it, giving him a makeshift skirt.

“America is repressed.”

“We know. That’s how we like it.” I poured coffee beans into the hopper.

“I’m pleased to see that you haven’t thrown away the gift I gave you.” Duncan pointed to a corner of the living room where I’d leaned the antique sword he’d delivered. He’d also given me two months’ worth of chocolates after the incident when the scientist, Lord Abrams, had used a magical device to control him and make him attack me.

“Who would throw away a valuable antique sword?”

One that, at least according to him, had silver mixed into the alloy so that it was extra effective against werewolves.

“A woman peeved with a man over a betrayal.”

“The betrayal wasn’t your fault.Thistime.” I gave him a pointed look. By now, I’d forgiven him for taking the thieving gig from my ex-husband, but there was no reason to let him know that.

“I fought the control as hard as I could,” Duncan said, his face serious now.

“I know.”

He’d sent me flying a couple of times, but I remembered his hesitation, his tormented eyes as he’d fought the magical compulsion. He could have killed me that night, and he hadn’t. He’d let me escape. Which was probably why he’d ended up half-dead in a literal ditch.

Duncan looked away, his expression troubled, then took a breath and changed the subject. “Do you know why your cousinsare after that case? I thought they only wanted the medallion your mother is set on leaving to you in her will.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t think they knew about it, honestly. As far as I know, that business guy, Radomir, and your Lord Abrams were the ones behind stealing it.”

“He’s notmylord. Trust me.” Duncan peeked into cupboards and removed coffee mugs and plates as we spoke. “I thought he was long dead.”

“Rude of him to randomly show up thirty years later with the means to control you.”

“Ithought so.”

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