Alyssa's Wolves (Wolf Masters, Book 4)(33)
“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.”