“Some. I’m sure it’s fine. A few Tylenol, and I bet I won’t even notice it anymore.”
“Dinner’s almost ready. I’m sure you’re starving. I’ll bring you in a tray in a few minutes.” With that, Nancy whipped back toward the kitchen area and resumed her preparations.
Alyssa felt guilty not helping her out. She always did her part around the house. But she couldn’t bring herself to move from between her mates this time.
Gingerly, she placed the peas on Tyler’s ankle and looked up at his face to gauge his response. He still held the same expression, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “There’s a cut too. You need some ointment on it.”
“It’s more of a scratch, but if you’re going to rub it in, I’m game.”
“Um…” Alyssa bit her lip and glanced around. They were alone now in the guest room. “Where did your brothers go?” She directed the question at Michael. Her world had shrunk to just Tyler and Michael the moment they’d returned, and she’d not given anyone else a second of her attention.
“Home.” Michael wrapped an arm around her neck and kissed her shoulder. “To their mates.”
How had she missed that?
“Don’t worry. Everyone understands.” His words were spoken so low she could barely hear him even with his face so close to her ear. A chill went down her arm, starting at her shoulder and spreading to her fingers. She jerked, and Michael chuckled.
“Your mom,” she mumbled. “She’s going to be back any minute.” She flushed for the millionth time.
“I’m pretty sure she’s aware of our situation and clear on the implications.”
“I don’t care. I … need some space.” Alyssa shoved at Michael, but when that proved futile, she wiggled out from under Tyler’s leg and stood. The mere proximity of the two men was flooding her senses, so she couldn’t think straight. She wanted them. So much so she feared she’d not be able to think rationally. It wouldn’t be prudent to start flinging clothes around the room with Michael’s parents just around the corner and dinner almost ready.
Alyssa straightened her clothes and backed up. If she didn’t extricate herself from the clutches of these two, she was going to lose her mind. She was fairly close to not being able to control her actions.
Alyssa spun around and headed to help with the kitchen table, running into nearly every piece of furniture on the way as if she were drunk. She needed time to clear her head. Tyler and Michael seemed much more civil toward each other than they had earlier, most likely a result of Tyler’s accident in the woods, but her emotions were all over the place.
She’d been totally unwilling to mate with these two earlier in the day. But everything changed while she’d stood on that porch waiting for them to return. An hour. Sixty slow, ticking minutes, during which she could think of nothing but mating with them as soon as possible so that nothing like this could ever happen again.
Regardless of the complications of being claimed by two men who were from such different backgrounds and had incredibly different ideas about where they’d be in the future, Alyssa was clear on the most important thing. This claiming was unavoidable. Any disagreements between them would just have to be worked out. Postponing mating with them was just that—putting off the inevitable.
*
Tyler stared at his flustered mate’s back as she left the room. The woman was so fucking sexy all discombobulated. And he loved knowing he had some part in doing that to her. Hell, he wasn’t kidding. If he’d known this little accident would have brought the three of them together, he’d have broken a leg or an arm earlier in the day.
“She’s magnificent, isn’t she?” Michael’s words shook Tyler back to reality.
“Stunning. And she’s ours.” There was no doubt in Tyler’s mind he was going to spend the rest of his life with these two people. Michael still sat on the bed, only inches separating the two men. There was no need to speak out loud, and their thoughts were assuredly private this way.
“Sorry I was such an ass earlier.” Tyler needed to say the words, even though they were silent. Michael had apologized before. Tyler needed to also. “You took me by surprise. But you’re growing on me.” He smiled.
“Good thing, because we’re going to have to get in sync and work together to make that woman the happiest woman alive.” Michael glanced back at Tyler. “And we’re going to love every minute of it. Besides, it was mostly my fault we got off on the wrong foot. I didn’t have to act like such a jerk when you arrived. I was secretly hoping she’d imagined you.”
“I’d have done the same. Can’t blame you for that.” Tyler stretched his leg out and leaned forward to situate the peas better. The cold really was helping.
“How’s the leg?” Michael asked out loud.
“Better. I’m sure I’ll be good as new in a few days.”
“I hope there’re plenty of things you can do with a sprained ankle. Alyssa is so aroused I can smell her from here. Did you see her hands? She was shaking with nerves.”
Tyler looked up when Alyssa backed through the door balancing a tray. “I have food,” she announced. “You guys missed lunch.”
“I’m starving.” Tyler looked at Alyssa though, not the tray. Didn’t really matter what was on it. The food he wanted was dessert.
Alyssa set the tray down on the bed and nudged Michael to move over. “Your mom made roast. Eat it before it gets cold.” She glanced up, her gaze roaming back and forth between the two men. “Stop staring at me like that. It’s disconcerting.”
“You’re going to join us, right?” Tyler leaned forward and took a plate. It did smell delicious.
“Yep.” She climbed up on the bed across from where Tyler and Michael now leaned against the headboard and grabbed herself a plate. “I brought three plates, didn’t I?”
Her smile lit up the room. When she crossed her legs and stabbed in with a fork, Tyler had to swallow around the lump in his throat. How had he fallen so hard so fast? Amazing what happened when a wolf met the right woman.
Dinner smelled amazing. He’d have to remember to thank Nancy later, but frankly he couldn’t really taste anything. His concentration wasn’t on the meal.
Alyssa broke the silence. “When you saw my parents, did they say anything? I guess you could hardly ask them anything.”
“No. I’m sure they miss you terribly. I can tell you this though. If you’d have stayed and married Dwight, you would hardly see much of them anyway. He isn’t known for letting his wives out from under his thumb often. His mates do not enjoy many freedoms.” Tyler gripped the comforter next to him, anger making him clench his jaw as he finished. The thought of Alyssa mated to that old geezer made his blood boil.
Alyssa lifted her head toward him and changed the subject. “What about your parents? How do you suppose they’re taking this?”
“My parents are probably about to tear the house down. I was supposed to head home yesterday and at the very least would have called them. Instead I chucked my cell phone, so I couldn’t be traced and left without a word. I bought a disposable phone on my way to Denver. I hated doing that to them, but it couldn’t be helped. If I’d given them even a hint of my plans, they’d have been forced to rat me out.”
“I’m sorry.” A tear formed in the corner of Alyssa’s eye. There was no way to know for sure if it was for his loss or her own. Probably both.
Michael reached toward her and cupped her cheek. “Me too.”
Tyler stared at Alyssa. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. My heart aches leaving my parents like that. But you know that feeling all too well…”
Alyssa nodded while fresh tears streaked her face.
These people were so … nice to each other. Open. Talkative. It was amazing what he’d missed out on all his life.
He could get used to this. Well, except for the whole Oregon, middle-of-nowhere, cold-as-hell dairy farming part. Shit.
Chapter 12
Alyssa finished her dinner slowly. She didn’t think she c
ould do otherwise without choking.
Her body was in a rush to get past the meal, but her brain was frightened.
If she went by her physical response—sweaty palms, knees shaking, gut clenching—she’d think she had the flu or something, if she didn’t add the dampness between her legs, and the flush stealing up over her cheeks that wasn’t the cause of a fever.
She sat across from the two men and tried to avoid brushing against them as though she’d go up in flames at any human contact.
When they’d all finished, she leaped up and grabbed everyone’s plate. They’d somehow grown awkward after the small talk was over. Alyssa was nervous, more than she’d ever been in her life. This decision was huge. She wasn’t just going to have sex with a man; it was two men, and afterward, her life would never be the same. She’d be able to communicate with them without speaking. They’d know her every thought. They’d be permanently connected for better or for worse.
There were a pile of issues still unresolved, but she had to admit to herself none of them really changed anything. This was fated. The rest would have to fall into place.
Her chest beat rapidly. There was no more stalling. She couldn’t sleep another night without Tyler and Michael.
Sure, she was chicken shit, but she was willing to admit it. Even if only to herself. She’d been unprepared for the onslaught of emotions she’d felt in the last hour. When Tyler and Michael had left for their run earlier, she’d have bet money they couldn’t work things out between them so quickly. But circumstances had brought the men closer and forced her to take notice. Her need to mate with these two had increased exponentially.
Michael took the tray of dishes out of her hands. She hadn’t realized she’d been standing in the same spot just staring at her mates until Michael stood. “I’ll take this to the kitchen,” he whispered. “Sit back down.”
She glanced at the door. What about Nancy and Richard? As much as she craved this union, it felt awkward having sex with anyone under the roof of the people who’d taken her in, given her a home and a life, and loved her like their own daughter. “Your parents…” she mumbled.
Michael grinned. “Babe, we’re mates. Everyone knows it. It’s not a secret that we’re going to claim you as soon as possible.”
Her heart raced. She leaned against the edge of the bed.
Michael dashed out of the room but returned before either she or Tyler moved an inch. He shut the door with a soft snick that sounded more like a gunshot to her ears.
“Relax. We aren’t going to maul you like animals … or do anything you aren’t ready for.” Michael held up both hands in surrender. “We just want to … be with you. In whatever capacity you’re willing.”
“I…” Her voice caught in her throat. She had to squeeze her legs together, a habit she was finding hard to avoid.
How would she ever hold her own when both these men individually made her brain slip out of her ear? With both of them in the room, she’d likely babble incoherently.
“We can’t stand not being with you.” Michael sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace. Her space felt crowded, and she couldn’t get enough oxygen.
He stroked her wrist, making her forget any reason to deny either of them. All she could concentrate on was the way he made her feel, the tingle that raced up her arm and shorted out her brain circuits.
“It would be tough to let you leave this room,” Tyler cleared his throat, “but if you’re not ready…”
Alyssa glanced down. She clutched her jeans with her free hand. “No, I’m … ready.”
Scared, but ready. What she wanted more than anything in the world was for them to take her, make her feel like part of them.
Michael pulled her in tighter and then lifted her onto the bed to set her between them. “We know there’s a hundred details not yet worked out between us, but we also know we’ll manage somehow. Trust us?”
Alyssa nodded.
Tyler’s hand grazed up her leg, making her shiver. She tried to hold still but in the end pulled her knees together and gripped them tight. A moan was building deep in her throat, and the last thing she wanted to do right then was make a noise. She didn’t need either man to pump his chest out any farther.
Shaking some sense into herself, she opened her mouth. “I think it would help if you both took off a few clothes. The last time I made out with each of you, I seem to have been the only one losing clothing.”
Did I just say all that?
Both men disrobed—completely—in the blink of an eye. Michael stood next to the bed and dropped his jeans and T-shirt while Tyler pulled off the T-shirt and shorts he was wearing.
Alyssa gasped. She whipped her gaze from one side to the other. “That’s not…” She swallowed. Choked really. “That’s not really what I meant. I was thinking shirts.” It happened so fast she’d not been able to formulate a sentence. They’d taken her literally. And she’d have to remember that in the future.
“You said…” There was a twinkle in Michael’s eye as he spoke. She’d not minced words. He’d purposefully misunderstood. Michael’s length bobbed in front of him.
Jesus, that’s … large. Alyssa dug her heals into the mattress and attempted to scoot back farther—through the wall.
A noise to her other side had her glancing at Tyler. Her eyes bulged from her head. The man had his … cock in his palm and was stroking it from the tip to the bottom. It was longer than Michael’s but maybe not as wide. Little consolation.
“You can’t…” Her voice sounded squeaky as though it belonged to someone else.
“Just let us love you. Okay?” Michael climbed back onto the bed, and she tried to avoid eye contact with his groin, aiming her focus on his impressive pecs instead. “I can smell your arousal. If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t suggest this. You want us. As much as we want you.”
It was true, damn him. She just didn’t have the same level of experience and was far more apprehensive.
Tyler leaned along his side on her left, stretching his length out beside her. “We know you’re scared, but not any more than you’d be if there was just one of us. You have a right to feel nervous your first time. And doubly reasonable you’d be stressed about there being two of us.”
Both men laid a hand on her thighs, and her brain flew out the window.
*
Tyler took a long inhale and groaned, biting the inside of his cheek to keep it silent. “Fuck. She’s so goddamn sexy.”
“I see that. So sexy I almost don’t mind you being on the other side of her. I can’t even see past her to you.” Michael chuckled into Tyler’s head.
“And aroused. Scared, but aroused. Her pussy is leaking without so much as a touch. I can’t wait to taste her.” Tyler leaned forward a few scant inches to breathe in her scent.
“She tastes divine.”
Tyler whipped his gaze toward Michael. “You fucking ate her pussy yesterday?”
“Not quite. Don’t freak out. I stripped her clothes, and I made her scream my name, but I kept my pants on.”
“But you sucked her pussy?”
“No, I licked my fingers clean after I rubbed her clit and made her come.”
“Are you two done discussing me like I’m not even in the room?”
Tyler whipped his gaze to Alyssa. She clenched the front of her T-shirt with one hand, holding the thin white cotton away from her chest. “Sorry.” He tried to look contrite.
“Do you have some sort of plan here? And do you think perhaps you could let me in on it instead of tag teaming against me?”
“We aren’t…” It was a lie. They were. Tyler didn’t finish the sentence.
“Riiight. I think it’s time I became privy to the internal dialogue.”
Tyler gasped at the same time Michael did.
“Do you know what’s involved in the claiming process?” Tyler managed to squeak out the question without sounding too high-pitched.
“Uh-huh. Lindsey straightened me out earlier, so to speak.”
Tyler stared at her a minute. Had she been totally clear?
Instead of clarifying, he ran his fingers up her leg and lingered on her thigh. Her muscles stiffened as she became a bit apprehensive, but Tyler wanted between them. He kept his gaze locked on hers while he popped the button of her jeans. Every movement was awkward on his part as he tried not to jostle his twisted ankle more than necessary. But the reality was he could barely feel the pain anymore. Adrenaline was kicking back in. This time the rush wasn’t from a fall into a pit, but… Nope, this is just like the fall into that hole.
Michael took over, brushing Tyler’s hand away and tugging Alyssa’s jeans down her legs.
“I want to see your body, Ali. All of it.” Tyler sucked in a breath when she pulled her T-shirt over her head. He waited another beat while she popped the clasp on her bra and let the material fall from her shoulders. “God, you’re perfect.”
A deep breath lifted her chest high, her nipples jutting out.
“I need to see all of her,” he told Michael.
Michael straddled her legs and grasped the sides of her lace panties. He scooted backward while removing them and then settled back along her side.
“Spread your legs for Tyler, baby.” Michael’s authoritative voice rang out in the room, making Tyler glance at the man he was destined to share this mate with.
And even more interesting, the woman obeyed. Slowly, without taking her gaze off Michael, she lay back against the pillows and let her thighs fall apart.
Michael leaned in and kissed Alyssa on the lips while Tyler maneuvered himself between the space she’d given up.
It was so hot. His dick grew harder against the mattress. Amazingly, watching Michael take possession of her mouth turned him on. She relaxed slightly against the man’s lips.
Tyler let his fingers graze up Alyssa’s smooth thighs and over her hips. He wanted to watch her clit come out of its hood as he teased her mercilessly with his tongue.
God, she was so fucking gorgeous. Goose bumps rose all over her skin, and the nipple he could see beyond Michael’s shoulder was pebbled and arching forward.
Alyssa's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 4) Page 13