Alyssa’s Wolves(73)

Epilogue


Three years later…

“Nelson, stop hitting your sister. Come here.” Nelson stuck his thumb in his mouth and waddled over to his mother. Alyssa couldn’t help but grin. He looked just like his father, and there was no doubt who that was. His chubby face, dark eyes, and tan skin screamed Masters.

His sister, LeeAnn, on the other hand, favored Tyler. Her strawberry curls made a halo around her little face. Alyssa glanced at LeeAnn now peacefully left alone on her blanket in the adjoining living room.

“Let me wipe your face. You’re covered with chocolate milk. Why do I let you drink that stuff?” Alyssa spoke mainly to herself. The toddler was barely over two and hardly cared whether or not he was clean.

The back door swung open, and Nelson jerked from his mother’s clutches. “Hey, little man.” Michael squatted down and waited with open arms for their son to run into his grasp.

“Thank God you’re here. I can’t get anything done. Nelson thinks it’s great fun to make LeeAnn cry, the kitchen is a mess, and we’re having the family over in less than an hour.” Alyssa looked around and then leaned against the counter.

“You work too hard. Slow down. Nothing’s that important. You’re exhausted.” Michael lifted Nelson in his arms and walked over to her. He laid a hand on her shoulder and leaned down to kiss her. “No one in the family cares how clean your kitchen is. They just want to see us.”

“I care.” Alyssa tilted her head back. “I don’t want the whole family to think I’m some kind of slug.”

Nelson wiggled in his father’s arms until Michael put him down. He ran off, probably because his sister was no longer crying, and he couldn’t stand the silence.

“No one thinks that. There is nothing ‘sluggish’ about you. When is Tyler getting here?”

“Any minute. He was delayed at the airport.”

Michael tugged her from the counter and wrapped his arms around her. “Damn. I was hoping the three of us could spend some time together before the family gets here.”

Alyssa tilted her head back and narrowed her gaze at him. She shook her head. “If you’re thinking of fooling around with me without using protection, you’ve lost your mind. I’m smart enough to know when I’m fertile, Michael. The last thing I need right now is another baby.” She shot him a coy grin to let him know she was open to sex but not to pregnancy.

“What’s wrong with being pregnant again? We three make cute kids,” he teased.

Alyssa wiggled free of Michael’s clutches. Even after three years, she still couldn’t think straight when either of her mates touched her. “We sure do. And we’re going to stick with two for now. There are plenty of kids in this family.”

Tessa had two kids; Kara had four; Lindsey had three; Jessica had three and one on the way…

This huge family that had taken her in when she was desperate five years ago was truly her own. She adored each and every member. She still felt sorrow when she thought about her own parents and the fact that she’d never had contact with them in all these years, but she was overwhelmingly blessed to have found the Masters family.

Alyssa narrowed her gaze at Michael. What was he up to? She knew when she was being goaded. Just the smell of him alone was distracting. She couldn’t keep her hands off her mates. Her desire hadn’t faded in three years. She still got tingly, hot, and wet every time one of them was around. She was nearly dizzy when they were both present.

If it weren’t for the toddler and the baby in the house, she’d suggest they head for the bedroom right now.

Alyssa whipped her head up. “We have company coming in half an hour. You’re distracting me.”

“Yes, and they’re bringing potluck, so stop fretting. None of your sisters-in-law have homes any tidier than yours, and no one judges you by the state of cleanliness you keep around here. Especially me.” Michael took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. “I love you more now than the day we met.”

“I love you too.”

“Hey.” Tyler’s voice bellowed through the house. “Where is everyone? Hi, buddy.” The next sound was an oomph as Nelson undoubtedly leaped into Tyler’s arms. “Where’s your momma?”

“In here,” Michael yelled toward the front of the house. He didn’t release Alyssa even though she squirmed to get out of his clutches.

“Well hello.” Tyler set his briefcase on the table and an excited Nelson on the floor. He smiled as he approached.

Something was up. Tyler looked far too happy for a man who’d been traveling most of the day.