Alyssa stepped a few feet away, breaking contact from Tyler. She glared at Michael as he approached. “What in the world did you tell him, Michael? You lied?” Anger boiled her blood. Her hands shook. She couldn’t remember ever being this mad before.
“Now hang on a second.” Michael reached for her, but she jerked to the left to avoid his touch. He exhaled on a sigh and let his hands fall to his sides. “I didn’t lie to anyone. I just didn’t exactly correct Tyler’s misconception.”
“So, you lied.” She put her hands on her hips and stared at Michael hard. “After all that ‘talking’ you attempted lamely yesterday, did you not hear a word I said?” Alyssa took a long inhale and tipped her head toward the blue sky before continuing. “Did you listen to me with your big head at all? Or just the little one?”
She was pleased to see her nearly six-foot mate, who outweighed her by more than double, cringe and step back a step. How dare he.
Oh, she was on a roll. “Let’s get one thing straight here.” She let her gaze fall on both men, back and forth, twice, so there’d be no doubt she was addressing them both. “This situation is peculiar at best and beyond my comprehension. I have no idea why fate has seen to it to put both of you in my path. I didn’t ask for this, and I don’t even want it. Hell, if you’d have asked me two weeks ago, I’d have told you I didn’t want even one man in my life, let alone two.
“So, before either of you gets all cocky and decides to play dirty to battle for my attention, you might want to keep in mind that I will make the decisions where this strange mating concerns me.” She stared at Michael pointedly. “Not you.” She flipped her gaze to Tyler. “And not you.
“If either of you expects to win my affection, it won’t be by cheating, I can tell you that for sure. Now, I’m going to go inside, take off my coat, and talk to Nancy and Richard about arranging a guest room for Tyler. Then I’m going to spend some time with Tyler—alone”—she glared at Michael—“and get to know him a little better. If I feel like it, I will take a few days to let the two of you woo me and plead your cases. I suggest in the meantime you find a way to make nice with each other, or somebody is going to be left out very cold and lonely.”
Alyssa stomped between the two men and left them standing in the driveway without looking back. Her hands shook. Her entire body was on fire, and not just from the proximately of two hot men. She was pissed and aroused at the same time. She was sure her expression was a mixture of pride and fear, with a smirk mixed in for good measure—just like the expression she’d seen on Michael’s face as he’d come down from the porch.
Chapter 8
Less than an hour after his arrival to the set of The Twilight Zone, Tyler Evans found himself safely ensconced, well relatively safe, in a nice guest room in the sprawling ranch home of Nancy and Richard Masters.
The parents of the unique band of adult children were gracious and kind and understanding, far more than he could say for their son. Not that he could blame the guy.
Tyler set his meager possessions on the bed and stared out the window for a moment. The quiet snick of the door closing to his back accompanied the scent of the gorgeous blonde woman with the eternal deep-blue eyes he was destined to spend his life with, if she’d have him.
He didn’t have to turn around to know she was there, leaning against the door, and he was finally alone with her.
Well, to be honest, “alone” was a relative term since Michael was lurking with distinct impatience in his head. Luckily, Tyler was catching up quick and learning to block his thoughts from the other man.
“If you hurt her, I will hunt you down.” Michael’s words rang deep, even though Tyler had no idea where the man was at this moment.
Tyler didn’t bother to respond. This time belonged to him and him alone. As the lady wished.
Slowly, Tyler turned from the window to face his mate.
The woman who’d been no more than a gangly teenager when he’d last glimpsed her two years ago was now a grown adult with her head held high. And, instead of greeting him with the anger and fear he’d expected, she smiled at him warmly.
“Shall we sit?” She motioned to a loveseat over by a fireplace on one wall of the room.
Alyssa settled herself on one side of the couch and crossed her legs. Even with her knees squeezed together, Tyler could still smell her essence, and he tried to hide his expression as he realized she was aroused. Thank God he had that effect on her because she was killing him. He didn’t even think he could sit that close to her without taking more than she offered at that moment.
His cock grew to incredible proportions as he stared at her. Her long blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders, a cascade of silk he longed to press his face into.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Tyler took a seat next to her on the loveseat. Their legs brushed and sent sparks flying that weren’t caused by static electricity.
“Do you mind if I ask you about my parents first? I haven’t had any contact with them for two years.” Alyssa bit her lower lip and chewed on it, her head tipped to one side. The confident, dominant shewolf he’d seen outside just a while ago was gone. In her place was this soft, gentle woman who ran away from home at eighteen to escape an unimaginable fate and missed her family terribly.
“They are both well. I’ve not been around much for several years since I’ve been at the university, but I crossed paths with them intentionally this past week. Guess I thought if I got close to them, I’d have a little piece of you with me.” Tyler lowered his gaze to her lap and then back up. He didn’t want to appear weak or childish, but he wanted to be honest. “They seem sad. I’m sure they miss you. But they are so ingrained in the way of life set by Wells… It’s like most of the pack is brainwashed. They don’t know any better.”
Alyssa nodded. “That’s what I’ve realized since I left.”
“Frankly, until you walked out of this house to head for the rodeo that day, I was no better. I had a few experiences with wolves from other packs in college, but it didn’t click with me until I saw the happiness in your eyes that entire packs most certainly don’t operate the way our does.”
Alyssa smiled at him, her dimples so cute he wanted to touch them but refrained.
“I knew on the spot even before I scented you that I wouldn’t rat you out. You’re better off anywhere but there. I came here like a robot at Wells’ bidding with no thought for your feelings. I swear to you that has changed. In fact, I left the pack a few days ago and never intend to return. I figure, whatever happens between you and me, I’m better off than I was there.
“Of course there is little future within the pack for over half the guys my age. Wells doesn’t even pay attention to us unless we’re his chosen few from the inner circle. When your intention is to marry off all the young girls to just a few elders, who needs an extra twenty-four-year-old man hanging around?”
Alyssa gasped. “I hadn’t thought about that aspect of polygamy.”
“What I don’t understand is why I never knew you were my mate before now. We lived in the same pack, ran in the same circles all our lives. Granted, I’ve not been extremely close to you since we were very young, but still, close enough. Why did Michael know two years ago and not me?” His question was rhetorical, but that didn’t make him less confused. He could understand why Alyssa didn’t know. She’d been so young, but Tyler was older than Michael.
“I’m no expert, but maybe the time just wasn’t right. Like, you weren’t supposed to know until now. Michael says…” She trailed off, not finishing her sentence. He wasn’t sorry. They didn’t need to discuss Michael right now. This was their time.
Tyler shook his head. “Could be,” he agreed. “And it’s been a long time since I’ve been close enough to you to scent you. I remember seeing you a few years ago at a pack meeting when I was home over the summer.” He smiled warmly at her. “I remember because your hair was blowing in the breeze, and I stared at you from the front steps of the meeting hall
while you fought to get it out of your face. You were watching the children out on the playground while we entered the building. You were probably only about seventeen at the time. Guess I wasn’t close enough…
“Anyway, luckily, I had good grades and went away to college. I even got my masters a few months ago. I am free to do as I please.”
“And what do you plan to do?”
“Well, I had a promising interview in Colorado a few days ago on my way here. I’m confident they may offer me a position.”
“Colorado?” She gulped.
“I had illusions of breezing in here, sweeping you off your feet, and convincing you to move to Denver with me.” He grinned at her, a half smile he hoped expressed his own realization that he’d been a bit too cocky and overconfident.
She smiled back and laid a hand on his arm. Warmth poured into his body as though she were a conductor of heat. “We’ll figure this out. We have no choice. We just need to get to know each other and decide what’s best for all three of us.”
“So let me get this straight. You have not been claimed by Michael. I mean you haven’t…?”
She shook her head. “No. And I’m pissed at him for leading you to believe that was the case.”
“Well, on his behalf, he didn’t actually tell me that. He just didn’t straighten me out when I pieced it together. Mostly he just sat on the porch and stared at me while I questioned him. To be honest, I’m not remotely clear on the mechanics of a threesome.” Tyler flushed as he realized the implications of his word choice. “Well, not the mechanics, but the logistics…”
Not releasing the grip she held on his arm, Alyssa giggled. The vibration stiffened his cock to new heights. The tinkle of her voice was sexier than hell.
“Still… He shouldn’t have done that.” She didn’t cut the man any slack. “He only has a few days’ head start on this bizarre mating trio, so don’t let him get to you.”
“What?” Tyler’s head whipped up from the hand squeezing his biceps. “I thought he knew you were his mate two years ago?”
“Oh, he did. But I did not. And he graciously spent the last two years in Spain giving me time to get older. He wouldn’t have been here at all now if the family hadn’t called him to let him know I was pining away for you, the mystery mate who’d fled the rodeo and left me feeling inadequate and somewhat … undesirable.” She grinned. He could see she was teasing, but nevertheless he knew those thoughts had plagued her.
“I’m so sorry for that and the angst I caused you. Trust me when I say you’re the sexiest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and my running had nothing whatsoever to do with your appeal to me and everything to do with my misplaced desire to ensure you led a happy life without interference.
“What I didn’t count on was that you’d invade every waking and sleeping moment of my life until I couldn’t even concentrate to accomplish even the most basic of tasks.”
“I know that feeling,” she mumbled under her breath.
Tyler reached for her free hand and squeezed it gently in his own. Her fingers were so tiny he swallowed them completely within his palm. As if unable to control his actions, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed each finger, one at a time. His heart pounded. He needed her so bad. At that moment he’d do anything to have her … except maybe share. Fuck.
A growl in his head made him flinch. He’d gotten lax and forgotten to block Michael. The man’s presence was just creepy.
“What’s the matter?” Alyssa gazed into his eyes. “I mean, other than the obvious.”
“Nothing. Just haven’t quite gotten the knack of keeping your other mate out of my head.”
“You’re thinking about Michael right now?” Her brow furrowed in confusion, and he realized she didn’t know the other man and he were connected mentally already.
“No… He’s in my head. He can hear my thoughts. It’s disconcerting.”
Alyssa drew back, eyes wide. “Already?”
“Yep. The moment I drove up we were connected. Some bizarre male wolf thing I guess when one woman is mated to two men.”
“I guess I should have realized. I mean the others all communicate like that, but I didn’t know the men did it even before the claiming.” Alyssa’s palm alighted on his cheek, cool fingers against his heated skin. He leaned into her touch.
“I just left one pack of crazies who marry multiple women to one man. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know if I can wrap my head around another pack that has multiple men with one woman. It’s creepy.”
“I know. It’s weird at first. But you might see it differently after a few days of watching the other brothers with their mates. And remember, these people are true mates. No one here was forced to enter an arrangement against their will. They are all kind and loving and doting. Nobody is disappointed in their family unit’s dynamics.”
“Still…” He was skeptical.
“Hey, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s for everyone. I had no thought in my head about entering a similar mating, but I can’t control what I know in my heart, and I’m desperately trying to rationalize this situation in my mind. You won’t see me dragging you two off to a room to complete this deal anytime soon. I’m barely less skeptical than you are.”
That was a relief. Tyler exhaled and grasped the hand still resting on his cheek. He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Alyssa’s. Their breath mingled between them. Hers was sweet and salty, as though she’d eaten candy and maybe chips.
“And I assume even though Michael’s brothers are all in relationships with other men, he wasn’t planning such a life for himself either, judging by his anxiety.”
She chuckled. “Anxiety. That’s an extremely polite way to put it.”
She leaned back an inch. “I don’t really blame him. He’s known for two years he was my mate and waited patiently for me to enjoy life’s experiences before claiming me. It never occurred to him he’d have to share. Normally he’s a big teddy bear with an even bigger heart, but this was sprung on him last week, just as it was for you and me.”
She had a point. If Tyler were in Michael’s shoes, he’d be confrontational too.
“Would you mind kissing me?” she blurted out.
“Would I mind?” He chuckled. “I’d be delighted.” His heart soared, and he didn’t give her a chance to rethink the request. He tipped his head to one side and leaned in to take her mouth. She opened for him immediately and let the kiss build from a gentle chaste lip lock to a hungry devouring. She took from him at least as much as he demanded.
Tyler swept inside her mouth with his tongue and circled her own in a dance. Chocolate and peanuts. That’s what she’d last eaten. He smiled against her.
She was delicious, and she let him explore her thoroughly.
Within moments, Tyler was on the edge of his seat. God, he wanted this woman, needed her like he needed his next breath. He gripped her shoulders with both hands and turned his head to deepen the kiss at the opposite angle. If all he ever got to do was kiss her like this for the rest of his life, it would be a wonderful existence. Maybe not perfect, but pleasant.
When he finally lessened the pressure on her lips and nibbled a path to her ear, she moaned lightly against him. The vibrations of her noises could be felt all the way to his cock. There was a long, cold shower in his near future.
While Tyler licked and nipped at her earlobe, Alyssa squirmed. Finally she pulled back and turned his face with her hands to gaze into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to tease. I…”
He melted a little more. “Don’t be sorry. I’ll enjoy every single moment of whatever you’re ready for, Ali. Don’t ever be sorry.”
She smiled when he used her childhood name. He loved that nickname. It suited her.
In a bold move he was unsure wouldn’t be more than she could handle, Tyler sat back against the couch and lifted Alyssa onto his lap so that she straddled him, their faces just a breath apart.
His ma
te sucked in a breath at the shock, but she didn’t balk. With her legs spread around him, he could clearly smell her arousal. So sweet. So fucking sexy. Her innocence was evident in the way she didn’t meet his gaze dead on. Her eyes kept flickering to other parts of the room. She gripped him with her thighs around his own as if she could somehow squeeze her legs together. It embarrassed her to be held so open in front of him. He could sense her shyness. Her fear of the unknown.
Jesus. She’s a virgin. That thought had not occurred to him.
“Ali?”
She glanced at his face and held the gaze. The minx tucked her lower lip into her mouth and nibbled on it to drive his cock to new heights. He wondered absently if that gesture of hers drove Michael as crazy as it did him.
“Have you slept with a man … or a wolf before?”
She shook her head slightly, and Tyler exhaled. He let his own head fall back on the couch, so he could catch his breath.
“Does that bother you?”
A single chuckle escaped his lips. “God no.” He’d misled her. He yanked his face back to hers. “It’s sexy as hell.” Does Michael know?
“Of course Michael knows. And if you take her virginity right now, you’re going to have to face his wrath later in a knock-down brawl in the barn, buster.”
Tyler grinned. Did Michael often refer to himself in the third person? He was warming up to this Michael character who paced somewhere, wringing his hands at the imagined antics occurring behind the closed door of this guest room. The question was the first time in several minutes Tyler had let Michael into his mind. Apparently Tyler was blocking better by the minute. Perhaps the two of them would get along fine, if their mutual protective instinct where Alyssa was concerned was any indication.
“What’s so funny?” Alyssa inquired as she boldly kissed Tyler on the lips. Hers were so soft and warm. She scrambled his brain every time she kissed his skin.
Alyssa's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 4) Page 9