Page 76 of Stealthy as a Wolf

To shift.

I bit my lip, struggling to keep my head clear, but it was impossible when his erection was waving at me like we were old friends. My fingers twitched with the need to take him in my hand. The only reason I stopped was because the rest of the men began to strip.

The eye candy was phenomenal, and I was riveted, gaping at the glorious male specimens. Separately, they were amazing. Together, they were enough to short-circuit a woman’s brain. Pheromones saturated the air until being fully dressed began to feel confining.

Who knew seeing the others naked while being fully dressed myself could feel so awkward?

Suddenly, I felt bashful about lusting after all four of them at the same time, so I did my best to avoid eye contact. “Ah, so, if I remember correctly, the first step to shifting is getting naked.”

I tensed, waiting for the lewd comments and teasing remarks.

Instead, a vicious snarl filled the clearing.

I jerked in alarm and whirled, bracing for an attack.

Only to see the men glaring at each other like idiots.

When they noticed me staring, the men snapped to attention, the four of them having the grace to look ashamed, though Burke less so than the others. Grady cleared his throat and took charge. “Would you like us to give you some privacy?”

His offer was so incredibly sweet that my insecurities evaporated.

Though Burke sighed and rolled his eyes, I noticed how sharply he watched me, as if my answer mattered to him.

The men appeared genuinely concerned that I hadn’t been shifting, each so earnest in their need to help me that I wanted to show them my appreciation. The best way to do that was by demonstrating how much I trusted them. With their eyes on me, I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and pulled it up over my head.

A stillness came over the men, their eyes sharpening like predators zeroing in on their prey. I waited for terror to overwhelm me at the thought of being hunted again, but warmth suffused me from head to toe, while I imagined all the delicious things these men would do when they caught me.

I stripped off the rest of my clothes without an ounce of shyness.

Even with all their rough edges, none of these men would ever hurt me.

“Since you haven’t shifted in a while, the twins will shift first and show you how it’s done.” Matty strode toward me, his gaze respectful, never dipping below my chin.

I dutifully turned to watch the twins and waited expectantly.

Boone met my gaze boldly, shooting me a wink without an ounce of shyness. A golden glow burst from his chest, wrapping around him until his form melted into a seven-hundred-pound tiger. Awe filled me when his eyes locked on mine, then he tipped back his head and let out a tremendous roar, revealing an impressive set of fangs that could pass clean through my body.

Burke cast his brother an annoyed look. Gold crackled over his skin, shimmering just under the surface. The change happened even faster this time, just a blink of the eye, and I found myself facing down two tigers so massive, they could be mistaken for ponies…if ponies could be carnivorous predators.

Two sets of piercing blue eyes met mine. It should’ve been disconcerting to be the center of their attention, but I found myself liking it. Boone looked amused, posing for me, while Burke stood patiently, as if waiting to pass inspection.

“You are both stunning.” I couldn’t disguise my awe, but it was nothing less than the truth.

“Now that the novelty has worn off after seeing the two of them shift, I want you to focus on Grady,” Matty instructed, grabbing my shoulders and turning me slightly so I faced the right direction, probably understanding that I didn’t have the willpower to do it on my own. Grady didn’t hesitate to cross the clearing and come to a stop less than three inches from me.

Something about being naked and standing within touching distance ignited a spark of anticipation between us. The air felt alive, my need to touch him almost a compulsion.

“Concentrate on his energy,” Matty murmured, his voice hushed as he came to stand behind me. I jolted when his warm hands came to rest on my hips, the touch both intimate and comforting. “Grady is an alpha. His connection to his beast is stronger, but it also means he has more control. He can slow it down and show you how it’s done. While he can force others to change, it might leave you disoriented. It’s best to just watch how he does it and learn.”

I nodded—more like bobbled my head—while I listened, the movements feeling jerky, like I was a marionette. I was so tense that I felt seconds away from shattering.

“Should I touch him?” I stage-whispered out of the corner of my mouth, hanging on to the illusion that this was a classroom to keep me from totally freaking the fuck out.

“Yes, you can touch him.” He nudged me forward, his fingers skimming down my back as he pulled away, sending a wave of goose bumps erupting across my skin.

My nipples hardened at the simple but seductive touch, and I barely resisted the urge to cover my boobs, my nakedness suddenly a real inconvenience.

“Honey, you never have to ask.” Grady reached down and captured my hand, then pressed my palm against the center of his chest, smoothing out my fingers until he held my palm flat beneath his own. “I’m yours to touch anytime you want.”

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