Page 28 of Wooded Bliss

“Since always,” he declares like it’s common fucking knowledge.

It is not.

“Maybe,” he muses while rubbing his jaw, “it’s time for you to make a grand gesture. Sure, you go to the edge of town and spend most nights with her but maybe it’s time for more than that. For her and for you.”

“Are you suggesting I move into town?” I can’t help the way my face twists up in disgust.

There’s nothing wrong with Whispering Pines, I’m glad it’s so close, but at the same time, I can’t imagine living within the town’s limits when living out here is perfect for me and my bear.

“But we miss mate when we’re here and she’s there,”my bear chuffs the words, clearly annoyed and fed up because he can’t spend all day, every day with Birdie.

“No,” Wylie scoffs, “but maybe there’s something in the middle. Not everything in life is all or nothing, Thatch.” He rolls his eyes at me and asks, “When was the last time you went into town?”

When I go to answer him, he holds a hand up and shakes his head. My mouth clamps closed again, and I glare at my brother.

“I mean really go into town and not just go to your mate’s house to stalk her,” his words are filled with teasing amusement.

“I don’t stalk my mate,” I mutter knowing I’m full of shit.

Wylie stays quiet and lets me mull over his words. When I really consider whether I can go back into town, I realize there’s nothing holding me back. Not anymore. I’ve allowed grief and fear to dictate the last ten years of my life.

It’s time to change because I need to do better for myself and for my mate.

With a slap on the back, I thank my brother and then head out of the main house. It only takes a few minutes before I’m in my truck and heading into Whispering Pines.

Honestly, I should have done this a while ago. Birdie has been in my life for weeks and even though she’s shown me pictures of her shop, I haven’t stepped foot inside of it. I never want her to question how fucking proud I am of her.

When I pull up in front of Blooms Happen, I notice the large space next to her shop is empty. But I don’t have time to think about it right now. I have a mate to see.

The bell above the door chimes when I pull it open, and Birdie looks up from where she’s arranging a bouquet of flowers with a big smile on her face. I swear her smile grows even wider when she sees it’s me.

She stops what she’s doing and moves toward me, picking up speed with every step. When she launches herself at me, I catch her easily. Our mouths fuse and I nip at her bottom lip, earning a gasp and the opportunity to slide my tongue into her mouth.

Fucking perfect.

We’re both panting when we pull apart and her blue eyes are shining with surprise, devotion, and love. She pants, “What are you doing here, Thatcher?”

I love hearing my name fall from her lips. It does something to me and my bear. He rumbles his own approval as I give my woman’s luscious ass a squeeze.

“I came to see you, little one,” I rasp, and she beams up at me. “Not only did I want to see your shop, but I wanted to see you.”

Her eyebrows furrow together, “Aren’t you coming over tonight? You’d see me in just a few hours.”

“Not soon enough,” my voice is husky and filled with need.

I’m sure she can feel my dick hardening against her pussy, but I ignore it for now. This is about so much more than filling my mate with my cock and my cum. This is about forever and what it could look like.

I glance around Blooms Happen and am very impressed, even though I’ve barely scratched the surface. “I want you to know I’m here for you and I support you,” I tell her honestly. “I also needed to come here and tell you something very important and then ask you a question.”

Curiosity covers her features, and she nods slowly. There’s a hint of uncertainty there, but I don’t see any fear. She trusts me. The truth of it resonates through me and settles deep in my soul.

“I love you, Birdie,” I murmur the words, everything fading away other than this woman in my arms and the way my heart beats only for her.

She gasps and her eyes become glassy with unshed tears. “I love you too, Thatcher,” she whispers softly as if she’s afraid to break the magic between us. “I wasn’t sure since you hadn’t brought up marking me…,” her voice trails off as she lets her words gently fill the space between us.

“I didn’t want to rush you. I know everything you’ve learned has already been big. I never want you to look back at your life, our life, with regret, but I was afraid if I didn’t give you time to adjust then that’s exactly what would happen.”

Her arms tighten around my neck, and she nods slowly as she processes my words. “I understand,” she tells me, her eyes full of sincerity as she looks at me.

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