Burton stood in a happy haze with Tansy’s hand wrapped tightly in his.

“Okay,” Sage said, turning to him. “It’s official. You’re taking a day off.”

Burton was thunderstruck.

“There’s no such thing as a day off on a farm,” he said, quoting Tansy’s favorite saying.

“There is today - for you,” Sage said crisply. “Go for a swim, take a nap, you were up all night saving the farm. The rest of us can hold down the fort for a day.”

“Of course we can,” Tansy agreed.

“Not you,” Sage told Tansy, rolling her eyes. “You’re taking the day off too. Get out of here, both of you.”

“But the bees—” Tansy began.

“I know as much about borrowed bees as you do,” Sage scolded. “You’re not the only one in this family who can use an internet search engine.”

Tansy’s laughter sounded like a waterfall.

Burton took her hand and they walked toward the pond without having to discuss what they were doing.

When they were out of earshot of the others, Tansy squeezed his hand.

“Thank you for what you did,” she said softly.

“It was my pleasure,” he told her. “I’m very relieved that you won’t be selling the farm.”

She didn’t reply. They walked on.

When the pond was in sight, Tansy stopped.

“There’s something I don’t understand,” she said.

“I will explain if I can,” he told her.

She bit her lip.

“I can’t explain if you don’t tell me your question,” he said gently.

She looked up at him appraisingly and must have been satisfied with what she saw.

“Burton,” she said, “you told me that you wanted to sleep late, spend time in nice hotels, and that you wanted… you wanted me to wear dresses…”

Oh.

“Tansy, I’m not sure how to tell you this,” he said. “I only hope you can forgive me.”

She watched him, her blue eyes bright and attentive.

“I was not being completely honest with you when I said those things,” he admitted, looking down at his feet.

“You weren’t?” she asked.

He shook his head, feeling deeply ashamed.

“I didn’t even know you could lie,” she said.

“I didn’t either,” he told her. “Especially to my mate. But I needed you to know that I would be happy with you anywhere. I thought you were only trying to keep the farm so that you could hide us on it.”

“No, Burton, I love this place,” Tansy said.

“So do I,” he told her. “And I love to see you wear your grandmother’s overalls. They have many pockets, which is essential to farming. Also…”

“Also, what?” she teased.

He answered by running his index finger along the top of the bib of her overalls, giving himself a peek at the whisper thin camisole she wore underneath.

She laughed again and he thought his heart would burst.

“Well, it was very nice of you to be willing to sacrifice your enjoyment of my grandmother’s overalls,” she told him, her blue eyes dancing.

“I also thought it was better for you to let go,” he admitted, hoping this part wouldn’t make her angry. But he could not have more secrets from Tansy. “And that it might be easier if I let you believe I didn’t really want to be here.”

“My sister told you about my student loans?” Tansy asked, sounding unhappy.

“No,” he said right away. “But… I might have overheard something I wasn’t supposed to.”

“You’ve been overhearing a lot of things you weren’t supposed to,” Tansy said archly. “I’m going to have to put a bell on you.”

“A bell?” Burton asked.

“Oh, it’s an expression,” Tansy said. “Like when you put a bell on the cat’s collar so it can’t sneak around.”

If there would ever be a better moment to introduce his special gift, Burton couldn’t imagine when it could be. Technically he wasn’t supposed to talk with Tansy about it until they were mated. But Burton was beginning to feel recklessly optimistic that their mating would happen, and soon. He supposed it was safe to share his final secret.

They had reached the pond. The sunlight was brilliant on its surface.

“Let’s get in,” he suggested. “Then we can talk.”

She shrugged and started peeling off her clothes.

Burton watched her, admiring her strong, curvy body and the carefree way she bared it in front of him. Women in movies were always blushing and trying to cover themselves from their men. He liked that his mate was confident under his gaze.

Completely naked at last, Tansy gave him a significant look.

Burton chuckled, realizing he hadn’t removed his own clothing.

He undressed slowly, reveling in the hungry way she observed him.

When he was finished, he joined her at the edge of the pond.

“It’s cold this morning,” Tansy said, dipping her big toe into the water.

“Shall we jump in together?” he offered.

She placed her hand in his.

They bent their knees and jumped at the same time, sailing into the shimmering water together.

Eyes squeezed shut, Burton felt the shock of the chilly water enveloping him and heard the rush of bubbles in their wake.

Still holding hands, they rose to the surface.

Tansy was laughing, her blue eyes sparkling brighter than the sun kissed water.

It was the most natural thing in the world to pull her close, until her perfect breasts were warm against him.

“Burton,” she whispered up at him.

He leaned down slowly, so that she could stop him if she wished.

She waited, lips slightly parted, for his kiss.

Instead he kissed her eyelids, her forehead, her cheeks.

When he drew back slightly she opened her eyes.

“Tansy, I asked you a question night before last,” he told her. “Are you ready for me to ask it again?”

She nodded, glistening tear drops in her eyes threatening to join the rivulets streaming from her hair.

“Tansy Martin, I choose you as my mate,” Burton said. “Will you accept me?”

“Yes,” she said simply.

A universe of joy opened up in his chest at that single word.

He bent to kiss her again, this time claiming her mouth roughly, unafraid.

She went up on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself close to him.

His body responded immediately. Lightning bolts of need shot through him. He clung to her, praying for the strength to take it slowly, attend to her in the way she deserved.

But when she moaned against his mouth and sank her nails into his shoulders he nearly lost control.

He lifted her, folding his arms around her hips as she squealed in surprise, and licked one stiff nipple into his mouth, warming it with his tongue.

Tansy wiggled, maddening him with the subtle movement of her legs against his groin.

He turned his attentions to her other nipple, reveling in Tansy’s light moans.

He walked them over to the bank, where two enormous bushes flanked a thick bed of moss. It wasn’t complete privacy, but even from the pasture no one would be able to see them.

And though Burton had only wanted to go for a swim and spend a pleasant day together before consummating their union properly, he realized he could not wait. Tansy needed him now.

He cradled her head in his hand as he lowered her gently to the bank.

Tansy gazed up at him, her eyes hazy with desire.

“Burton,” she whimpered, arms outstretched for him.

“Don’t worry, my love,” he told her. “I know what you need.”

He knelt in the water, which lapped around her ankles and nuzzled her thighs.

Tansy arched her back and spread her legs wide for him.

Burton smiled, proud that he had given her enough pleasure last time to merit such a warm welcome.

Then he lowered his face to her delicious sex and everything else was forgotten. He lost himself to the tender exploration of every fold, every quiver of her hips beneath him.

When she was panting and crying out for satisfaction, he crawled up to cage her head in his arms, and covered her body with his.

“Are you ready?” he asked her, his voice cracking with emotion.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Remember, this is forever,” he warned her.

“I want forever,” she said, gazing up at him with those hypnotic blue eyes.

“Then you shall have it,” he promised her.