Alyssa nodded.
“So simple. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Michael will handle everything, and I know for a fact he will keep your feelings at the forefront of his mind the entire time.”
That didn’t answer her questions. Alyssa wrung her hands. Until two years ago, she’d understood the basics about sex from reading. Her mother had told her very little except that her mate would handle things “in the bedroom” when she was claimed. The woman was so old-fashioned it was a wonder Alyssa even knew her vagina from her urethra. Thank God for the library, but reading about sex in books hardly compared to putting the act into practice.
After two years surrounded by her new family, including five women who were built strong enough to put up with nearly a dozen men, Alyssa wasn’t completely ignorant about what mating entailed, but there were still plenty of holes that needed filling.
“Are you worried about having sex?”
Alyssa nodded again.
“Oh, honey, we all were the first time. Don’t think so hard. It’s the most natural thing in the world.”
“What if I hate it?”
“You won’t. Trust me.” Kara came up behind Alyssa and hugged her tight. “No one does.”
Bells went off in Alyssa’s head. She knew that wasn’t true. She was sure plenty of women in her Oklahoma pack cringed every time it was their night to sleep with their mate. She’d heard them whispering amongst themselves, groaning over the dreaded act. Maybe it was biological, and Alyssa wasn’t made to enjoy it either by accident of birth.
Kara turned Alyssa in her arms until she faced her. Her gaze was questioning.
“I can see that you and Lindsey and Jessica and even Tessa and Nancy seem to enjoy spending time alone with your mates, but that’s not the way I was raised. My mother appeared to consider the act a chore, and so did most of the members of my pack. I saw the looks on their faces when it was ‘their turn.’ I’m scared.”
“Oh, hon, that’s awful. Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” Kara shook her head. “Never mind. I understand. Listen to me… That crazy pack you were raised with has things all messed up. There is a natural way among wolves and arranged matings is not it. Of course they don’t like to have sex. They aren’t with the right man. Believe me, when you’re with the right person, it’s fantastic. In fact, I promise you won’t want to leave the bedroom for about two weeks after you get started.”
Alyssa flushed from her cheeks to her fingers. If the response she got from her body every time Michael was around was any indication, there was every chance what Kara said was true.
In fact, the heightened sense she had of all sexual body parts this past week had made her squirm in bed at night. Alyssa had never masturbated or even thought the word until this week. Now her fingers itched to touch herself, and even alone, the idea made her face heat. She hadn’t done it … yet … but if she didn’t let Michael take over soon, she’d find herself reaching for that aching little nub between her legs that had begun to throb nearly all day.
Some of her dreams had left her drenched and bolting upright. Dreams of Michael leaning over her naked body, staring at her nipples in the moonlight. She wanted him to touch them … and other places.
“Go to him. Talk to him. I promise he’ll be understanding. Have you ever seen any evidence to the contrary?”
“No.” It was true. She needed to be talking to Michael, not Kara. But a woman’s perspective had sent her driving over here this morning. A woman who wasn’t within a hundred yards of one hovering Michael.
Mating was inevitable. She was certain of that. Alyssa wasn’t ready to completely give herself to Michael yet, but she could and should at least talk to him. Tell him about her insecurities.
“I’ll talk to him.”
“Good. No time like the present.” Kara turned Alyssa toward the door and gave her a gentle shove.
The grin on Kara’s face as Alyssa turned to wave goodbye made her stomach do a somersault. The smile was knowing and teasing. What the dickens had Alyssa gotten herself into?
Chapter 5
Michael paced the floor of the barn from one end to the other. He was a patient man, but his patience was wearing thin. He was tired from not getting enough sleep. His cock hurt nearly all the time, even when Alyssa wasn’t nearby. And he’d had so many cold showers in the last forty-eight hours it was a wonder his skin wasn’t pruned.
“Son…” Richard Masters, his father, stepped into his path. The wry grin on his face perturbed Michael. This wasn’t funny. “I know it’s a dirt floor in the barn, but if you keep that up, I’m going to have to haul in a truckload of soil to fill in the divot.”