My Bear to Heal (Cypress Valley Shifters #3)

14. Tyler

A ddie is occupied with girls’ night, so I take the opportunity to check on Earl for her. She didn’t ask, but she didn’t have to. Even though I may not have claimed her as my mate yet, I can still sense the black cloud of worry hovering over her from time to time. When we’re working in the greenhouse or with the chickens, she checks her phone constantly like she’s waiting for something bad to happen.

Addie graciously volunteered to keep Gertie for the night, so I took a little joy ride on the way over to Earl’s house. My bear is more agitated lately with Addie being near, but not his . The wind in my hair and the winding scenic highway did wonders for the snarling grizzly in my head. He’s settled to a low rumble as he paces a path across my subconscious.

Swinging my leg over my bike, I unlatch my saddle bag and grab the small bottle of aged whiskey before walking around to the back of the house. Earl’s old wooden rocking chair creaks against the deck boards as he rocks slowly, a beer already in his hand.

“Need something stronger?” Holding the whiskey up in offering, I jog up the deck stairs.

His deep chuckle quickly turns to a groan as he stands. “Tyler! Good to see you, son.”

My gut clenches when he calls me son. He’s become like a father to me over the past few years. After setting the whiskey bottle on the table, I shake his hand in greeting. “Haven’t seen you around in a few weeks. Thought I’d stop by and make sure you’re alright.”

Bracing his hands on the arms of the chair, he gently lowers himself back into the chair. I feel guilty for making him get up in the first place. “Been slowing down a bit lately. It’s hell gettin’ old, kid. Avoid it as long as possible.” I laugh at his lame joke. “I’m doing okay. Reese and Kiernan have been stopping by regularly. You boys are a good bunch. Thank you for looking out for my Addie.”

I nod. “Of course. You’re both family, and we look out for our own around here. Let me get some glasses and we can crack open this whiskey.”

He continues to rock in his chair, eyes drifting to the azalea garden at the back of the property. Taking his silence as my cue, I grab two glasses from the kitchen before taking my seat in the matching rocker next to Earl.

I pour a small amount of amber liquid into each glass before handing one to him. “She’s so much like her mama, ya know?”

My feet push against the deck boards until my chair rocks in time with Earl’s. I wait for him to continue. He brings the glass to his lips, taking a hearty sip, clicking his tongue after he swallows. “Catherine was such a kind soul, so gentle and caring. It’s why she was such an amazing nurse. She would give you the shirt off her back without hesitation. Addie’s the same way. I never asked her to come back here after my heart attack. Did you know that?”

Stormy navy and gray eyes meet mine, and it’s like I’m looking at Addie, the color so comforting and familiar. I shake my head. “No, I’d assumed—”

“You know what they say about assumin’, son.” He chuckles at his own joke before sobering. “Addie dropped everything without hesitation when I needed her. But lately, I’ve been thinking maybe it was fate.”

“How do you mean?” I take a sip of whiskey, relaxing as it burns down my throat.

“Maybe Addie is meant to be here… or rather, Cypress Valley. Because of you, son.”

My eyes widen. Earl’s lips curl into a smile as he chuckles. “I may be old, but I ain’t blind, kid. I’ve seen the way you look at my Addie. Same way I used to look at her mama. Thing I can’t figure out is what in the hell you’re waiting for?”

I gulp, planting both feet on the wood to stop my chair. “I’m afraid, sir—”

“None of that ‘sir’ business. You call me Earl.”

“Earl. Right. I guess I’m scared of losing her. My ex, Amber, really messed me up when she left, and I don’t think I’d survive another heartbreak like that. Especially not from Addie. She’s the one.” My voice trails off as my eyes linger on the vibrant azalea blooms surrounding a wooden bench—one of Reese’s creations.

Earl’s chair creaks, breaking the silence between us. He takes another sip of whiskey before speaking.

“If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s to live every day like it’s your last. Do the things that are scary because it might lead to the best days of your life. Sure, I miss Catherine every damn second of every damn day, but I know in my heart we lived the best life we could while she was here. I loved her with my whole soul every day. So stop wasting time, son. If you love Addie like I think you do, then do me a favor and tell her.” Gray eyes shimmer with tears as he speaks.

I nod, swallowing back my emotions. Addie has told me stories of her parents and how deeply they loved each other. I want a love like that. A love so bone-deep, it’s like you share the same soul.

“She’s not gonna wait around for you forever. It’d be a shame if you missed your opportunity. Stop wasting time. Can you do that for me, son?”

“Ye-yeah, I can do that.” My voice cracks as moisture pools in my own eyes.

He extends a hand to me, clasping mine tightly in his. “Good man. You’ve always been like a son to me, Tyler. You’re a good kid, and I know you’ll take care of Addie.

“Until the day I die,” I vow.

“Good. Wait here. I’ve got something for you.” With another groan, he stands from his chair and heads through the sliding screen door .

I blow a breath out, wiping the back of my hands over my eyes. This conversation might just be the kick in the ass I needed to tell Addie how I really feel. I don’t want to miss my chance to love her the way she deserves.

A few minutes later, Earl lumbers back outside with a small object clutched in his large fist. He pulls his chair around to face me before sitting down.

His eyes bore into mine as he takes my hand, slipping a black velvet box into my palm. “I’m not gonna be around forever and I know you love my little girl. Heck, probably more than I do, which is sayin’ somethin’. So, when the mood strikes, give her this ring and take care of her forever.”

Flipping the lid open, my eyes land on a beautiful solitaire diamond set in a gold band. One small emerald sits on either side of the diamond. Removing it from the box, I bring it to my face for closer inspection. The gold band isn’t a normal ring. In fact, the metal has been formed into leaves, so the diamond and emeralds look like they are flower blooms.

My brows raise. “Was this—”

“Catherine’s. I bought it the day after we met. I knew she was the one from that first glance. You know what I’m sayin’?”

I meet his eyes and nod, flashes of vibrant red curls and playful gray eyes filling my head. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.”

Placing the ring back in the box, I snap it shut and stuff it in my pocket for safekeeping.

“You take care of her for me,” he says before spinning his chair back toward the blooming azaleas.

“Always. ”

Moving his chair back beside mine, he picks up his glass, raising it between us. “Cheers, son. To finding your true love and holding on tight. I can’t wait to watch you two build a life together.”

I clink my glass with his. “Cheers.”

We rock side by side as the sun sinks below the treetops. Earl’s words echo in my head; tomorrow, I’m claiming my mate.

N ew resolve puts an extra pep in my step as I bound up the steps to Addie’s cabin the next morning. My knuckles bang against the wooden door and I wait. Energy buzzes under my skin, my bear pacing in my head.

I barely slept last night, excitement and anticipation vibrating through me with the thought of finally spilling my feelings to Addie.

When I got home last night, I peered in her front window, only to find her and Wren passed out on the couch together, each at opposite ends cuddled under a fluffy blanket. Gertie was clutched in Addie’s arms like a teddy bear. I didn’t want to encroach on her girl time, so I stewed in my own cabin until this morning.

I knock on the door again, worry filling my gut with every second she doesn’t answer the door. “Where is she?” I voice the question aloud.

Wrapping my hand around the knob, I twist, and the door swings in. “Addie? ”

My boots echo off the wood flooring as I stomp into her cabin. The kitchen is empty, dishes arranged neatly on the drying rack next to the sink.

Blankets from last night have been folded and draped over the back of the couch.

“Are you here, darlin’?” My voice is met by silence, so I take a peek into her bedroom. The light gray comforter is tucked in place and decorative pillows litter the top of the bed.

My bear whimpers as I inhale, and sweet roses fill my nose. The scent is fresh. She was here recently. Blood rushes through my veins as my heart pumps faster. My brain immediately plummets back to Amber leaving me—to the devastation and shattering heartbreak I felt.

Logically, I know there’s probably a simple explanation as to where Addie is, but my brain won’t listen.

Rushing out of her cabin, the screen door bangs behind me. I sprint down the dirt road to the greenhouse, hoping to god she’s there.

My ears barely register the tinkle of the bell as I swing the door open. Like a predator, my gaze flits back and forth, searching the rows of plants for any sign of Addie. Finally, wisps of bright-red hair catch my attention as they bob above the green leaves.

I rush up behind her, framing her plump hips between my grip as I bury my nose in her hair and breathe deep.

She jumps, but immediately settles when she realizes it’s me. “Good morning, Ty,” she says, delicate fingers lacing through mine as her body melts into me.

“I thought you were gone,” I murmur into her hair .

She spins to face me, the sunny smile on her face dropping as her eyes search my face. Small hands brace on my chest, directly over my racing heart. I’m surprised it hasn’t ripped right out of my chest with how fast it’s beating.

Red brows furrow. “Where would I go?” The soft tone of her voice soothes my bear as he roars in my head.

I shake my head, slipping my hands up to cup either side of her neck, fingers threading into the base of her messy bun. “I-I don’t know. I just…”

“Ty, what’s going on?”

“I went to your cabin, and you weren’t there. I thought you left me—like Amber.”

She winds her arms around my back, pulling me closer. “That bitch,” she mutters, almost too quiet to hear. “Tyler, I’m not going anywhere. You’re my family, remember?”

I nod, adrenaline slowly bleeding from my body; her touch a healing salve for me and my bear. “How was your girls’ night?” The words scratch their way out of my throat, hoarse and broken.

A dry laugh echoes around us. Soothing gray eyes roll before she focuses her attention on me. “Oh, no, you don’t. Don’t try to change the subject, Ty. Why did you come in here all wound up? Thinking I’d up and leave town when literally everyone I care about is here.”

This is it. Now or never, Tyler.

“Because I’m afraid to lose you.”

She takes my hand from her neck and rests it over her heart. It’s beating just as fast as mine. Then she places her hand over my heart again. “Why? ”

“Because Amber broke something in me, and I’ve spent the past few years trying to heal it. Nothing worked… until I met you, Adelaide Rose. And then I fucked it all up by kissing you. You weren’t ready then, I understand that now. But my feelings haven’t gone away over the past few years. They’ve only intensified to the point where I can’t keep them inside any more. I’m sick of wasting time, but I’m afraid once you know the magnitude of those feelings, you’ll leave. Like she did.”

Her hand clutches my shirt and I press her further against the table. “Tyler.” Haunting eyes shimmer as I look down at her. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I never should have pushed you away when we first met. If I could take it back, I would. Ty—”

“Let me get this out. Please.” I hate interrupting her, but if I don’t get the word vomit out, I’ll lose my courage. “I’m afraid you’ll break my heart again. But I’m also tired of living in fear. Tired of being alone. I can’t resist you anymore.” I lean closer, bending my neck until my lips inch closer to hers.

Whimpering, her pupils blow wide. “What are you saying, Ty?” she whispers.

“You’re mine, sweet rose. Don’t you feel it?” My voice is pure gravel as I lean a centimeter closer.

She nods. “Yes, I feel it. I was too caught up in my dad and going back to Chicago to see it before. But I see it now. Tell me, Ty. Tell me what I am to you.”

Flaring my nostrils wide, I suck in a lungful of her crisp floral scent and push the confession out. “You’re my fated mate. You’re the piece of my heart that’s been missing my entire life. The healing solace I need to finally be whole again. ”

My hand sweeps over her cheek, down to her jaw, before gripping her neck. Using my thumb, I tilt her chin up as the distance between our lips gets smaller and smaller.

“Now’s your chance. The only one you’re gonna get,” I rasp.

Her lips part on a pant, eyes locked on my mouth.

“Stop me now, Addie, because if we do this, you’re mine until I take my last fucking breath. Mine until the light fades from my eyes. Mine until I’m buried deep in the dirt and my skin’s grown cold. Do you understand?”

Her eyes flick to mine. Navy and gray swirling like an ocean storm. Flecks of gold like flashes of lighting in the sky. “Yours,” she confirms, rising on her tiptoes until our breath becomes one, mingling with each harsh pant.

“Mine.” The growl in my voice echoes around the empty greenhouse, possession and claiming evident in my tone.

I don’t waste another second. Fuck, I’ve wasted too much time already. Tightening my hold on her throat, I tug her the final centimeter until our mouths crash together.

And it’s fucking magic.

Intoxicating and hypnotic.

Everything else fades away until it’s only Addie. My sweet rose.

She’s all I taste.

All I feel.

All I hear.

All I want.

She moans against my lips, so I immediately open and swallow the erotic sound. They’re mine. Every little whimper and mewl. I want them all .

She clutches blindly at the back of my neck and the roots of my hair, holding me closer like she wants me to climb inside her skin. I would if I could, darlin’.

Her lips open willingly with my tongue’s advances as I explore every inch of her mouth. She’s so responsive to me, nipping at my tongue and lips until I’m groaning my own pleasure. This is perfect.

She’s perfect. My mate.

My bear roars his triumph as I take taste after taste from her lips. I never want to stop.

All too soon, she pulls back, clearly out of breath with the way she’s sucking in lung after lung of air. Her chest heaves, the tantalizing creamy swells of her tits drawing my attention. Giving in to my desire, I trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck.

My hand around her throat tightens slightly, holding her in place, as I taste her unblemished, pale skin. I clutch at her hip with my free hand, pulling her closer and trapping my raging hard-on between us. A shocked gasp hits my ears as she must feel my erection.

“Mmm… that’s all for you, sweet rose. Only for you,” I murmur against her heated flesh.

The needy, almost desperate, moan that falls from her kiss-swollen lips is everything. It’s now my life’s mission to force that sound from her mouth as often as possible, by any means necessary. “Tyler, touch me. Please.”

Sliding my hand up her body, I squeeze and knead the soft flesh of her breast through her clothes .

A throat clears in the distance, but I ignore it, too enraptured by the goddess in my arms.

My tongue traces a path over her collarbone before heading north again toward her perfect lips.

“Um, guys?” The voice filters through my lust-filled haze.

Ripping my head away from my mate, I turn and growl at the intruder.

Benny stands in the greenhouse entrance, pale-faced and hands held up in surrender. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Another growl rumbles from my chest. My bear snarls in my head, snapping his jaws, irritation filling my veins at being interrupted when I was finally going to have my mate.

“Stop it, Ty!” Addie’s soft voice reprimands as her palms land on my chest.

I look down at her, cheeks flushed a bright pink, eyes glazed slightly as she licks her plump bottom lip. Possessiveness flares through me again, like an inferno raging through my body.

Suddenly, she cups my face, locking eyes with me. “Breathe with me, okay? You need to calm down.”

Focusing on the soft pads of her fingertips against the rough stubble on my cheeks and the subtle flecks of gold in her eyes, I try to match my breathing to hers. My heart rate slowly returns to normal and the burning in my veins extinguishes. “Sorry. That’s never happened before. I guess I got a little possessive,” I whisper, dropping my forehead against hers and letting the familiar storm clouds in her eyes calm me .

“It’s okay. Something we’ll have to work through.” She gives me a small smile, reassuring me that she’s in this as much as I am.

“Addie? Ty?”

We both look over at Benny, still awkwardly standing near the door, kicking at a speck of dirt on the floor.

I turn toward him, but keep one arm around Addie, my hand resting possessively on her hip.

“Sorry, Benny. Did you need something?” Addie asks.

He rubs at the back of his neck, cheeks flaming. “Some of the chicks got out when I was feeding them. Can you help me wrangle them?”

“Isn’t there anyone else who can help?” I growl and tighten my grip on Addie’s hip. In my head, my grizzly roars his disagreement. He wants to stay here, cocooned in our mate’s embrace. I do, too.

“Oh, umm… no. Kier and Reese are at the logging site. And Syd and Wren took Will to Oak Ridge for some errands. Hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have opened the chicken run on my own.” At least he has the decency to look guilty.

I sigh. We really are the only option. Sorry, big guy , I think to my bear.

Addie peers up at me, one hand on my chest. “We’ll have to pick this up later.” Spinning to face Benny, she continues, “Sorry about my possessive mate.” She throws a wink over her shoulder. “Of course we’ll help you. Lead the way.” With a pat to my chest, she spins out of my grasp and follows Benny out the door .

Huffing, my chest rumbles again as I reluctantly follow, too. Stupid chickens.

Much to my dismay, we spend the afternoon hunting down our two escaped chicks.

By the time we finally find them, the sun is sinking lower in the sky and Addie has to leave for dinner with her dad.

There go my plans to ravish my mate for hours on end until we’re both too exhausted to move.

She closes her cabin door and heads down the steps toward her black pickup truck. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I sidle up behind her before she has a chance to open the truck door.

“I’m taking you out tomorrow night.” It’s a statement, not a question. I’ve wasted too much time feeling sorry for myself, so I’m not letting another minute slip by without wining and dining my mate.

My hands come up to brace on the side of her truck, the metal still warm from the summer sun. It flows up my arms and settles in my chest. Sweet rose invades the air as Addie turns to face me. Her eyes darken as I lean closer, my nose skating up the side of her neck while I fill my lungs with her scent.

“Do you know how good you smell? Like fucking roses. So sweet and fresh. I could get drunk off you, darlin’.”

Her hands come up to fuss with my hair. Before I realize what she’s doing, the unruly waves fall around me. “Much better,” she says, running her fingers through the roots, her nails biting into my scalp slightly. I groan in pleasure. My bear purrs with happiness as our mate’s hands massage my scalp. “You’re purring, Ty.” Her giggle tinkles around us, like a chorus of bells. A stupid smile spreads across my face at the sound .

“I love that sound.” I lean closer, pressing her supple body against the truck.

My teeth bite gently at her galloping pulse, and she sucks in a gasp. “Ty, I have to go. I told my dad I’d be there in an hour. You know I don’t want to leave, but it’s tradition. My dad and I always go to my mom’s grave tonight. Sunset was her favorite time of day.” Her voice is slightly breathless, and I want nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my cabin.

But I respect her too much to take away her free will. I know she’ll come back to me, especially after the intense kiss we shared earlier.

“Your mom’s birthday, right?”

She nods. A hint of sadness shimmers in her eyes.

“I understand, sweet rose. Go be with your dad and celebrate your mom. But tomorrow night… you’re mine.” I pull back so she gets the full weight of my heated gaze. She nods eagerly before placing a kiss on my lips. It’s too short, too soft—my body craves more.

“I’m helping Will with his midterm exams tomorrow. He’s so close to graduating high school early, and I want to do everything to help him. But I’ll find you when I’m done. Goodnight, hotshot.”

I chuckle at the nickname. I don’t know why she started calling me hotshot, but I don’t hate it.

My lips seek hers one more time, devouring her needy little mewls.

She pulls back, breathless, and I take in the heat in her eyes. “Ty,” she pants. “I really need to go. ”

But she doesn’t push me away, so I murmur, “One more taste,” before smashing my mouth against hers again and tangling my hands in her lustrous hair. She opens beautifully for me, like a flower in bloom, snaking her tongue against mine.

She belongs here with me. My bear and I both feel it. A bone-deep, all-consuming kind of feeling.

Once I’ve had my fill and satiated my grizzly for the time being, I pull back and lean my forehead against hers. “Drive safe. Goodnight, my sweet rose,” I whisper before unwinding my hands from her hair and stepping back.

I stand in the gravel driveway until long after she drives off. A low rumbling in my head lets me know how very unhappy my grizzly is. My skin tightens as he pushes forward, trying to break free.

“Be patient, dude,” I reprimand, shoving him away from the surface, but he grouses back. “She’ll be ours soon. We can wait one more day.” It’s no secret I’m fucking wrecked for this woman. She’s my world. I hope she feels the same way.