Page 25 of Wooded Bliss

I shrug my shoulders, unsure how to answer her. “Yes and no. We live for the first 18 years without our bear, but at the same time growing up surrounded by shifters, we’re taught about what to expect from an early age. Because of that, before you get your bear it can feel kind of lonely because there’s an expectation of having them with you after your 18thbirthday.”

She nods, her eyes thoughtful as she bites her lower lip. “Not being lonely must be nice,” there’s a hint of pain in her voice and I hate it.

My heart clenches and regret hits me hard. I shouldn’t have fought finding my mate for so long. Even though I’m not sure I want to hear her answer, I still ask, “You’ve been lonely?”

She shrugs and doesn’t meet my eyes. “Yes. I’ve always been an outsider. I didn’t have a lot of friends when I was growing up because I was quiet and wasn’t always comfortable in social situations. I feel more comfortable now because of the shop, but I think my chance to make friends has kind of passed.”

My arms tighten around my woman, and I bury my face in her neck, wishing I could take away the sadness coming off her in waves. “I’ll be your friend,” my voice is muffled, but I know she hears me when she giggles.

“I thought you were going to be my mate,” she teases.

I’m so surprised by her words that I pull back and look at her in awe. “You’re going to accept me?”

Her eyebrows pull together in confusion, “Why wouldn’t I?” I watch as a light bulb seems to go off over her head before she looks at me shyly. “Being your mate, is it why I always had a crush on you growing up?”

I blink a few times, staring at my mate and unable to look away. Knowing she had a crush on me while I never noticed her pains me. In my defense, though it’s thin, I didn’t notice anyone. She would have been too young for the mate bond to snap into place when I was still in school and then I retreated into the forest.

I nod slowly and she giggles as I shake my head at my cute as hell little mate. My bear rumbles,“Love her.”

I can’t help but agree. Now I just need to ensure she falls in love with me.

“I can be your mate and your friend,” I tell her. “And then there are my brothers. They might give you shit from time to time,” I warn her, “but they’ll have your back.”

She gently prompts, “None of them have mates?”

I growl, my bear lending me some of his possessiveness, “You’re mine.”

The giggle that comes out of my mate goes a long way to soothe the thought of her having any interest in my brothers. She reaches up and cups my jaw. “I’m yours,” she murmurs. “I was just curious.”

“They’re unmated and they’ll treat you like a sister,” I promise.

A dreamy look takes over her face, her voice soft and filled with something like yearning, “I think I’ll like that.”

The need to feel close to her, to taste her, overwhelms me. I slam my mouth down on hers and when she gasps, I take full advantage of the opportunity and plunge my tongue between her lips to taste her. I groan the moment her tongue starts to play with mine.

Her nails dig into my shoulders and her hips start to rock and grind down against my cock which has gone from a semi to rock fucking hard so fast I get a little lightheaded. The way I want this woman is heady, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Shame fills me when I realize I almost gave all of this up. What was I thinking? There’s no way I could be happy in the future without Birdie at my side.

“I’m sorry I was such an idiot and thought I didn’t want my mate,” I whisper against her lips.

She pulls back from me, but only far enough to look into my eyes. The way she looks at me, with understanding, has my heart pounding in my chest. “You’re going to let it go, Thatcher,” her words might be gentle, but there’s a command underneath them. “Living in the past won’t do you any favors. It’s time to move forward and one way we’re going to do that is let the past go.”

My entire being fucking melts. If I weren’t deeply in love with this woman already, that would have done me in. My bear grumbles his approval.

I don’t even try to keep the need out of my voice, “Do you have any more questions?”

She bites her lip and shrugs, but I can see the wheels in her head turning. “Just one,” she finally says, “you said something about mating, which I’m pretty sure I understand, but what is marking?”

My dick throbs and I’m sure she can feel exactly what she does to me since I didn’t bother putting on clothes. Instead of answering, I lean forward and press my lips against her marking spot.

“When we’re mating,” I rumble against her skin, “I’ll bite down right here. It will cement our bond, deepen it, and give you the ability to mind link me and we’ll be able to feel each other’s emotions. The mind link is kind of like what I have with my bear. You’ll be able to talk to me. Everyone in the same pack can mind link, like I can link with my brothers at any time even though we’re the only ones in the Bosch pack now.”

I know I should explain more, but I can’t concentrate as Birdie’s scent fills the room I hope to share with her for the rest of my life. When I turn and lay her out on the bed, she’s grinning at me with a sweet innocence shining in her eyes.

“I’m not sure I can answer any more of your questions right now, little one,” I grit out. “The need to be buried inside of your sweet pussy is too much to ignore.”

She makes a humming sound as her fingers run through my hair. Even though it might not be her intention, I take it as an invitation. As much as my bear wants to shred her clothes, I hold him back.

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