Page 13 of Wooded Bliss (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)

BIRDIE

I’m going through my flower stock and pulling any stems which aren’t up to snuff when I hear noise coming from the empty storefront next door. Thinking I might just be hearing things, I stop what I’m doing and tilt my head to the side. I even move a few steps closer to the wall I share with it.

It used to be a sewing store when I was growing up. I remember walking through the store and touching all the pretty fabrics. There was a lot of dreaming about fancy dresses done in that store. The only problem was I couldn’t sew and neither could my mom.

The shop offered classes, and I even took one, but I was not good. For many, it might have been a skill they could develop, but all my seams were crooked, and I would get frustrated far too easily with every project I tried. I realized sewing wasn’t for me and gave up.

But I still liked to wander through all the fabric.

That was years ago, and the storefront has been empty for years.

I haven’t heard anything about someone starting a business there, and when something like that happens the people of Whispering Pines like to talk. The problem might be that I’m not exactly in the loop anymore. Although I guess if I had to choose between being in the know about everything going on in town and living with Thatcher, I’d choose my mate every time.

It’s been a few weeks since Thatcher marked me, and I’m fully moved into our cabin out in the woods. Our house is exactly the kind of place I always dreamed about living in. It’s a little rustic, but everything about it is cozy and makes me feel at home. I love it there.

I love my mate even more.

That man is on a mission to get me pregnant. Considering his level of determination, I have no doubt he’ll be successful in practically no time at all.

Not only have I spent a lot of time with Thatcher and his brothers, who are now all my brothers as well, but I’ve gotten to bond with Thatcher’s bear. I love my furry beast.

He’s a giant, but he’s so gentle with me. When he looks at me, his eyes intense and edged with a feral ferocity I find sexy as fuck, I can feel the love he has for me.

It’s almost comical how I’ve just accepted the life I’ve been offered. I never imagined I would be mated to a bear shifter, but I’ve always felt a connection with Thatcher. Finding out he’s a bear and mated to me? Who am I to deny the path the Moon Goddess has laid at my feet.

When more sounds come from next door, my eyebrows pull together and I quickly flip the open sign around and lock Blooms Happen behind me. It’s only a few steps to the front door of the shop and when I tug on the handle, I’m mildly surprised to find it open.

I stick my head inside the door and my mouth falls open. Not only is someone in the long-abandoned store, but all four Bosch brothers are inside. They’re moving things around that were left behind, taking measurements of walls, and looking at the fixtures.

Since I know the men in the room, I step fully into the space, but I’m too surprised to say anything right away. It’s one thing to see Wylie and Grady in town, but seeing Thatcher around is still surprising. Seeing Ripp is shocking as hell.

When I finally find my voice, I blurt, “What are you guys doing here?”

All four brothers turn toward me with sheepish smiles on their faces. As my mate steps toward me, the brothers give little waves. The smile on Thatcher’s face makes me even more curious about what is going on.

“Were we being too loud?”

“I heard something going on over here, it wasn’t overly loud or anything,” I answer honestly. “But that doesn’t tell me what you guys are up to.”

Thatcher spreads his arms out wide to indicate the shop around us. “I’m opening a store.”

Giddiness fills me and my lips curve into a huge smile. I bounce on my toes as I close the distance between us until we’re almost touching. “You’re opening a store? To sell your woodwork?”

“See,” Grady murmurs as he comes up and elbows my mate, “I told you she’d get it.”

Thatcher rolls his eyes and gives his little brother a small shove. “Of course she was going to get it,” pride shines in his eyes as he looks down at me, “my mate is very smart.”

I giggle softly and shake my head at my man. He’s always complimenting me in one way or another. I’m not complaining, far from it, but it’s still a little strange to hear sometimes.

Thatcher cups my face in his hands, his brown eyes staring at me intently. “You know how much I hate to be away from you. Asking you to give up your dream wasn’t an option, but I needed to figure out a way to still be close to you every day.”

Even I can hear the shock in my voice, “So you decided to open a store?”

“Exactly,” he says like his solution is the most obvious thing in the world. “I get plenty of commissions to keep me busy, but I don’t have to work out of my shop at home. I’m going to build a work area here while creating a display space. It’ll help me coordinate with clients and I’ll figure out some things to make that people can buy and walk out with the same day.”

“Thatcher,” I sigh while struggling to take in what he’s said to me.

He wants to be close to me. He’s opening a store in Whispering Pines. He’ll be spending a lot more time in town even though it’s the place he’s avoided for ten years.

I wrap my arms around Thatcher’s neck and pull him down to me before I slam my lips against his. He lets me control the kiss and I pour everything I feel for him into it. All the love. All the gratefulness. All the understanding.

How can I not love this man? He’s opening a store, something he never aspired to do, just to be near me all day, every day.

Some people might feel like it’s too much, being next door to my mate and not having any time away from him. The thing is, I don’t want to be away from him any more than he wants to be away from me. I’m more than happy to be close to him all the time.

Tears well up in my eyes as I pull away and look up into the dark eyes which are like a window into my soul. He’s become a part of me.

“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper against his lips.

My big, giant of a man and bear shifter melts against me. It’s only when someone clears their throat that I remember we have an audience. I slowly pull away and turn to find the other three Bosch men grinning at us.

Grady whines, “You’re not going to make us do all this work while you just make out with your mate, are you?”

I can only shake my head at him as I giggle. Thatcher looks like he wants to beat the shit out of him, but Grady only grins. He’s clearly used to my mate’s reaction. Honestly, I think he thrives on annoying his brothers, especially Thatcher.

Still, I know how much love exists between the four Bosch men. They’ve been through a lot, and they’ve faced it all together. But I don’t think they’d be embracing their full brotherhood if they weren’t annoying each other.

These men are masters at it.

Thatcher kisses my forehead and whispers, “I need to get back to work. Will you meet me over here when you close up?”

Joy fills me because with a single question, I can imagine how awesome this set-up is going to be. We’ll be right next to each other and be able to see each other throughout the day whenever we want.

Thatcher can say he’s doing it to be close to me, and I think it’s true, but what he doesn’t realize is he’s taking his life back by doing this. I could burst with how much love I have for this man.

“Of course,” I kiss him softly before I back away. If I don’t leave quickly then I’ll never want to leave.

Ripp claps his hands after I give a wave to the Bosch men who have become like brothers to me. “Okay, we need to figure out where we’re going to put the workshop area because it’ll have to be soundproofed. We better do it right or else Thatch will have one pissed off mate.”

I can’t help but giggle as the door to my mate’s new storefront closes behind me. I’m practically floating back to Blooms Happen. Knowing Thatcher is right next door does not help me concentrate. The rest of the day drags on.

When it’s finally time to close up, I heave a huge sigh of relief and get through my closing duties quickly. Just as I reach for the handle of Thatcher’s store, the door swings open and the Bosch brothers file out. They take a moment to hug me and kiss me on the cheek as they pass. They all earn growls from Thatcher as he looks on.

I can feel how much affection the guys have for me. I know part of it is because of the changes they’ve seen in their brother, but it’s not the only reason. They’ve opened up to me and showed me who they are; I’ve done the same in return.

They’re good men and I can’t wait to see them all find their mates, especially Grady. Whoever is destined to be the other half of that guy has to be extra special.

Thatcher reaches for me and snags me around the waist to pull me against his broad chest. He tugs me into his store before closing and locking the door behind me. Since I was by earlier, the brothers have covered all the windows with brown paper to keep all the nosy as hell citizens of Whispering Pines from being able to look in.

“Need to be inside you,” Thatcher growls and I can see his bear peeking out at me through his eyes.

When he buries his face in my neck and his lips ghost over my mate mark, my pussy gushes and I practically climb my mate like he’s a sequoia. He’s about the size of one.

I melt against my mate as little whimpers fall from my lips. The way this man can play my body with just a few simple touches, especially if they involve my mate mark, is fucking criminal.

I’m not really complaining though. Bring on the worship. Bring on the tingles.

Thatcher carries me through his shop, his strides long and sure, until we reach an office space tucked away in the back. The only thing in the room is a desk, but it certainly looks like it has seen better days, probably because it was left behind years ago.

My mate sets me down on my feet, grips my shoulders, and spins me around until I’m facing the desk. His touch is gentle and firm as he pushes me down until I’m bent over and right where he wants me. The way his large hands slide over my body has me panting.

“There’s no better way to christen my new shop than by bending you over this desk and fucking you until you can’t remember your own name and my cub is in your belly,” he growls.

The moan I let out is borderline embarrassing, but then Thatcher is reaching around me, unbuttoning the jeans I’m wearing, and practically ripping them down my legs along with my panties. My mate doesn’t give me any warning before he shoves his dick inside of me with a brutal thrust.

I throw my head back, his name coming out as a loud groan to echo in the practically empty office. Thatcher grips my hips, his fingers flexing as he starts to pound into me. Every punch of his hips is a claiming, one I accept readily.

This man, this bear shifter, is all mine and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

While I had a crush on Thatcher, I never really knew the boy I liked from afar. Knowing him now, loving him with everything I am, being trusted with his truth and his secrets, is even better than the fantasies I used to have. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything.

And I’m sure we’ll have the future we both desire which will include cubs and wooded bliss. I can’t wait to experience it all with him, and his bear, at my side.