With a sense of pride, Michael climbed out of the car, unfolding himself from the tight confines, and headed for the front of the house. Everything was just as he’d left it. Even the porch swing rocked gently on its hinges, squeaking in the same fashion it had all his life.
The front door wasn’t locked. It never had been. This area outside Corvallis was the safest in the country as far as he was concerned. No one locked their doors. Hell, there was rarely a time when the house was empty of all occupants.
Right now proved to be one of those rare occasions. He knew his family was around, tending the land or in the barn, but for this brief block of time, no one was inside.
Michael leaned against the door as he silently pushed it closed. He tipped his head back, took a deep breath, and smiled. Her scent was everywhere. It permeated the entire house. He’d know that smell anywhere. His mate. The woman who’d starred in two years of wet dreams. The one whose image he’d masturbated to in the shower.
Except for his parents, Alyssa was the only one still living in the main house. His brothers had all moved to homes on other parts of the property.
A noise made Michael jerk his attention across the great room as the screen door swung shut with a loud bang.
“Michael.” The sweet voice of his mother rang out across the distance just before she dashed across the room and flung herself into his arms. He felt like a man returning from war, except the battles he’d fought on the vineyard weren’t nearly as dangerous.
Michael smiled and laid his chin against his mother’s head as she hugged him.
She hadn’t changed. At least not much. Maybe a little older, but she was still very youthful.
“Missed you, Mom.”
“Me too, son. Me too.” Nancy Masters leaned back and looked him up and down from head to toe. She’d done the same thing when he’d left for kindergarten. Hopefully her intentions were different this time. When he’d been five, he was pretty sure she’d been assessing his wardrobe to make certain he wasn’t leaving the house in mismatched clothes. This time she just took him in with no comment about his attire.
Michael grinned at the memory. “Do I match?”
His mother simply swatted his arm and tugged him into the kitchen. “You must be thirsty after that drive. And hungry. Are you hungry?”
The woman lived to feed people.
“Nope, I’ve eaten several meals since I left Spain.” What he really should have been was tired. For him it was late in the evening. He’d gained the entire daytime hours during the flight west.
But sleep would not come. It would be a long day of revelations before he’d even consider closing his eyes.
“Sit,” his mother commanded. “Tell me about your flight.”
“Mom…” Michael took a seat at the long kitchen table, but his flight was the last thing on his mind. “Where is she?”
Nancy turned from the refrigerator with a jug of iced tea in her hand and a smile on her face.
“She went to Kara’s to help with the kids for the day. I thought you’d need some time … to adjust, get unpacked.”
Michael swallowed. What he needed was Alyssa in his arms, in his bed, in his life, not a day of emptying his suitcase.
As soon as the cool glass of sweet tea landed in his hand, Michael nearly drained the contents. I guess I was thirsty after all.
“Has this fictitious mystery mate made an appearance?”
“Nope.” His mother glared at him. “And I don’t think you should take that attitude about it either. I see the look in your eyes. Maybe Alyssa was mistaken, maybe she wasn’t, but you need to be prepared either way.” She sat across from Michael and demanded he look her in the eye with just her stare. “I know you’ve never wanted the kind of relationship your brothers have, but you need to open your mind. If you alienate Alyssa with your close-minded thoughts, you’ll lose her. You understand?”
Michael gulped. She was right. He closed his eyes. Damn it all to hell, she was right.
“It’s going to be all right.” Her voice had lowered, soothing him. Her hand landed on top of his from across the table. “I love you, Michael. You’ve grown into quite a man. I can see how much you’ve matured in the last two years in the twinkle of your eye. Don’t be rigid. Keep things light. Take it slow. Alyssa is still young. She’s not … even had a boyfriend. I hope you don’t have visions of sweeping her off her feet in one afternoon and carrying her to your bedroom. It won’t likely happen that way with her. And she’s going to be confused when she realizes the implications of this situation.”
Damn. The woman was right again. Where had Michael gotten off thinking he was going to swoop in here and fix up his perfect life in one day? Christ, his cock hurt just thinking of waiting for Alyssa to warm up to him.