Page 7 of Bloom
And so, I pressed a soft kiss to his lips and lay down on the grass next to him. Timber scooted closer and rested his head on my chest, and I traced my fingers in lazy drawings across the back of his neck. We gazed at the stars in the dark sky as we cooled down and caught our breath.
Once we came back to ourselves, Timber buttoned himself up and retrieved a few napkins from the food bags. He wiped me down first, even though he was the one who was coated, before cleaning up himself. Once we were clean, he held my shirt open, allowing me to stick my arms through the sleeves, and then he carefully buttoned me up. I’d never had anyone take the time to care for me that way. My sexual experiences tended to be of the ‘wham, bam, thank you man,’ variety. But maybe it was for the best; it allowed me to fully appreciate this moment.
I pulled his t-shirt back onto his body and we shared a sweet kiss. There was no awkwardness and certainly no regrets between us - only tenderness. I stowed my guitar in the truck bed once more, and since I’d eaten, Timber handed over my keys, allowing me to drive us back.
Timber
Jersey held my hand across the console as he drove us towards his farm. I hadn’t asked if we were stopping there for the night or if he wanted me to go back to my house. The night was too perfect to think about it ending. Besides, my home was now wherever Jersey was. Now that I’d found my mate, I never wanted to be apart from him. And until our bond was secure, it would be especially painful if I were.
Though I assumed it wouldn’t be a problem, and that he wanted to be close to me as well; especially after he was agreeable to our bonding. I had to fight against every cell in my body to not give into temptation, but I wanted him to be of clear mind when he made that decision.
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud beeping noise. “What’s that sound?”
“It’s the alarms for the cameras,” Jersey replied, pulling his phone from his pocket. He unlocked the screen to reveal a live video feed showing Bart Hughes stepping out of a flashy gold truck. The arrogant fucker wasn’t even trying to be inconspicuous. He looked in all directions before pulling a large gas can out of the truck bed. I had no doubts what it contained.
“I knew that bastard was behind this,” I growled through clenched teeth. “We should definitely call the cops now.”
“No.” Before I could ask for an explanation, Jersey added, “We can get there faster.”
Wewereclose to his farm; the fields became clearer as we quickly approached. Jersey’s tires squealed and the truck jerked side to side as he drove like a bat out of hell.
He pulled onto his property and there sat Bart’s truck, clear as day. In the glow of Jersey’s headlights, I saw the man whip his head towards the sound of us thundering towards him.Bart’s eyes widened and he dropped the gas can onto the ground. He waddled his short, plump body to the driver’s side of his truck and climbed in before peeling out through the plants.
But I wasn’t going to let him get away. I held my hands up and focused my energy on the ground laid out before us. With a flick of my wrists, thick roots shot from the dirt and stretched out towards Bart’s tires. They wound around his axles and his truck jerked to a sudden stop. Smoke billowed all around his vehicle as he tried to stomp the gas pedal and escape, but the truck didn’t budge.
Bart’s door flew open and his plump body appeared again. He hustled through the soy bean plants much quicker than I would have guessed possible. Jersey threw the gear into park, making both of us lurch forward. He was outside in a blink, running top speed towards Bart.
I rounded the front of the truck and was only a few seconds behind him, but that’s all it took for him to catch up to Bart. Jersey gripped the back of the man’s collar and spun him around.
“You son of a bitch!” Jersey screamed as he cocked his fist back, and slammed it into the side of Bart’s face. Blood spilled down his cheek, and sick satisfaction filled my chest.
But just as quickly, it was replaced with fear when Jersey struck the man again and again. I wasn’t concerned for the man getting beaten; I was worried for my sweet mate.
“Jersey, stop!” I called out, but he was a man possessed. His eyes were cold, dark, and focused on the round face growing bloodier by the second. “Please!” I stepped forward and placed both of my hands on his shoulders, feeling his powerful muscles shift. “You don’t want this on your soul. You won’t be able to sleep.” I didn’t want to control my mate; I wanted to help him. I knew his heart, and didn’t want it damaged. “You support andnourish life, not take it away. You wouldn't be able to live with yourself.”
Jersey’s fist hovered in the air as he stared down at Bart, who had fallen to his knees. His face was swollen and bruised until he was nearly unrecognizable. His breathing was labored, and his gaze was somehow defiant and pleading at once.
My mate let go of the man’s collar and leaned closer until his lips were next to Bart’s ear. “You’re on camera trying to destroy my crops. We’re even. Get out of my sight and if you ever step foot on my property again, next time I won’t stop.”
I felt the truth he spoke in his words. I was proud of him for letting Bart go, although he didn’t have much of a choice. He sure couldn’t call the police without getting himself in trouble for assault as well. But now Bart knew that he’d been caught, and that my mate would do anything to protect his land.
The man, physically bested and humiliated, staggered back to his vehicle, glaring at Jersey one last time before slamming his door. I raised my fist and slowly released my fingers, and the knotted vines retreated from Bart’s tires, allowing him to speed away.
Jersey’s face displayed so many emotions; anger in his locked jaw, desperation in his flared nostrils, and guilt in his heavy eyes.
“Come with me, sweetheart,” I told him quietly, and placed my hand on his lower back to guide him. Instead of leading him to his truck, I walked alongside him through the fields. I thought the crisp night air would help him cool down, and the walk would give him time to sort through his thoughts.
By the time we reached his two story farmhouse, his shoulders had lost their tension, and his breathing was back to normal. His face had relaxed as well, but unfortunately, the guilt and remorse it held remained.
I opened his front door and led him across the threshold. I’d been in and out of the house all day as we worked, but I was still taken with its rustic charm. The floors were all hardwood, and dark wooden beams braced the ceilings. Jersey told me earlier in the day that his great grandfather had built the home with his own two hands. It was old, but in beautiful condition. The craftsmanship and care given to it were evident.
But it wasn’t time to admire his home, no matter how easy it was to do. It was time to give my mate the tender loving care he needed and deserved.
I took him into his stark white bathroom and motioned to the toilet, where he sat on the lid. I retrieved a washcloth from the cabinet beneath the sink and wet it with warm, soapy water. I rubbed the cloth across his knuckles, which were coated in Bart’s blood, along with his own, given the tiny cuts and scrapes on his skin.
“I wouldn’t have stopped if you weren’t there,” he said quietly as I scrubbed between his fingers. “Icouldn’t;I kept thinking about all of the work my family has put into this place, from building this house to tilling and harvesting. And that selfish bastard tried to take it all away. He could have stolen awayeverything;not only from me, but the whole community.”
“I understand,” I assured him before taking a break to rinse the cloth. I had to run the faucet for a minute to wash away the red liquid from the basin. When I turned to face him, the worry in his gaze made my breath catch.
