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I chuckle under my breath, shaking my head at just how sweet this man is. He’s so bright, full of life and wonder. Even after these few days surrounded by the white world of my mountain and the smells of the forest in the air, he’s come so far out of his shell. If only I had more time.

My gaze sweeps to where his untouched phone sits on the kitchen bench. The screen is dark and carries a weight that seems to follow Blake no matter how far he goes.

Pattering down the hall, Blake slinks into the kitchen wearing my jacket and a baggy pair of pants with the belt cinching the material at his waist. Pulling open my fridge, he rummages around, humming to himself. I smile at just how comfortable he’s become. One day, I hope, this will be his home. Our home.

“Where’s the fruit?” He asks, shutting the door of the fridge.

I scratch the back of my head, unknotting my long hair with my fingers. “I forgot to stock up before the storm came. But there’s frozen berries in the deep freezer in the shed.”

Blake huffs, scrunching his nose. “Mountain men not eating their fruit and vegetables.”

Biting the inside of my cheek to stop the laugh bubbling inside my chest, I follow him into the kitchen, my hands finding on his waist.

“Technically, I eat plenty of fruit and veg when I’m out hunting. Salmon berries are some of my favorites.” I stick my face into his hair, sucking in a deep inhale of his fresh scent.

“Maybe next time you go hunting you can bring me back some?” Blake presses his ass against me, yet with our height difference he’s basically twerking against my knees.

Sweet thing. Oh, the things you do to me.

“You wouldn’t want to come hunting with me?” I smile against his hair.

Scoffing to himself, Blake’s hands grasp mine. “I wouldn’t be very good. I’d scare away everything in a ten-mile radius or eat poison berries.”

I roll my eyes. I’ll teach him how to hunt one day and I sure wouldn’t let him eat poisonous fruit. “Let’s go fix the snowmobile.”

I let my mate go and reach into the pantry, tossing him a nut bar. Behind me, Blake makes a pleased hum as he unwraps the treat and chomps down on it.

Satisfied I’ve given my mate something to fill his stomach, and his boots are tied tight, I open the front door for him.

Sunlight breaks from the clouds and birds chirp quietly from their safe nests in the trees. Shutting the door behind Blake, I watch him take in the scenery. It’s the first time he’s seen the views from my mountain.

Well below our little peak, the river creeps lazily between the other mountains, cutting into the rock and shaping the land. The town is a tiny speck below, with cars moving about the streets and chimneys billowing plumes of smoke.

“Wow,” he whispers. “I didn’t realize you got such a view.”

“It’s even better at sunset, when the mountains glow and the sky changes colors.” I remember back to the day I bought this cabin. After the lengthy renovations and improvements, I spent my first evening watching the sunset from this very spot.

Blake sucks in a breath, “I want to see that one day.”

I smile fondly, grasping his shoulder. “You will, baby.”

The steps below us are lined with thick, clear ice, so instead of taking his hand in mine I scoop my mate from his feet and hold him tightly against my chest. Blake’s little squeal echoes through the clearing as I step down the stairs. My feet have been well and truly hardened by the forest, not even slippery ice can fault my stride.

“I can walk, you know.” Blake pouts at me but I know he’s loving every moment being wrapped up in my arms.

“I know.” I trek across the clearing, the snow rising to my knees. “But I like carrying you.”

Blake’s hand runs across my chest, his fingers carefully brushing through my fur. It sends a shiver down my spine. My blood pulses, my cock pulses too. God, I need to mate with this man.

“You’re purring like a cat,” Blake giggles, his hazel eyes shining up at me.

Just the way he looks at me has every bone in me melting. He sees me, even as a Sasquatch, and he still wants me. He touches me, feels my fur, seeing how I’m so different to him yet he still accepts me.

“I like the way you touch me, Blake. I’ve never been touched like this before.” I reach the shed, carefully placing my mate on his feet.

Opening the door, I step into the chill of the room and flick the light on. My gaze sweeps over the snowmobile and all my tools, my workbenches and the wall of pictures. I’ve made a home here, but something’s missing. It’s all… me.

“No one’s touched you before?” Behind me, Blake’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.