His thumb brushes along my jaw, his eyes darkening, but there’s no more teasing in his voice. “What are you saying, Bella?”
I swallow, my voice soft but steady. “I’m saying I want a life with you. Not just this… not just the passion. All of it. I want a future with you.”
For a moment, he just stares at me, and I swear my heart stops beating. But then he lets out a soft chuckle, his lips curving into that infuriatingly sexy grin. “Not into relationships, huh? I knew it all along.”
I roll my eyes, trying to hold onto some semblance of composure, but it’s impossible when he’s looking at me like that. Before I can respond, his lips crash down on mine, hot and demanding, swallowing every protest, every doubt.
The kiss is fierce, more than just passion—it’s everything I’ve been holding back finally breaking free. His hands slide up my back, pulling me closer, and I melt into him, my body responding to his touch in a way that feels inevitable. Like we were always meant to end up here, tangled together.
But this time, it’s different. There’s more at stake. More between us than just desire.
He breaks the kiss, his forehead resting against mine, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. “You’re mine now,” hemurmurs, his voice low and possessive, sending a shiver down my spine.
I nod, my hands fisting in his shirt, pulling him closer. “I’m yours.”
He pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes burning with that intensity that always leaves me breathless. “You’re not going to run again, are you?”
I shake my head, my voice steady. “Not anymore. I’m done running.”
His smile softens, but the heat between us never fades. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”
He kisses me again, slower this time, savoring every moment, and I feel it—this is real. This is what I’ve been fighting against, but now that I’m here, now that I’m all in, I don’t want to fight anymore.
I want him.
He pulls me closer, his hands sliding under my shirt, and I gasp as his fingers graze my skin, sending a jolt of heat through me. “Archer…”
He grins against my lips, his voice low and teasing. “You’re not backing out now, are you?”
I laugh, breathless and aching for him. “Not a chance.”
With a growl, he lifts me off my feet, carrying me toward the couch, and I cling to him, my heart racing as the reality of what we’re doing—what we’re building—finally sinks in.
This is it. The start of something real. Something lasting.
And I’m all in.
He lays me down on the couch, his body pressing against mine, and the weight of him, the heat of him, makes everything else disappear. It’s just us, tangled together in the soft glow of the firelight, and for the first time in forever, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
His lips trail down my neck, his hands exploring every inch of me, and I arch against him, my breath coming out in short, desperate gasps.
“I love you,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
He freezes for a second, then looks up at me, his eyes burning with something deeper than desire. “Say it again.”
I smile, my heart pounding in my chest. “I love you, Archer.”
His grin is pure heat, and he leans down, his lips brushing against mine. “Good. Because I’m never letting you forget it. I love you too, Bella, with everything in me and more.”
And as he kisses me again, slow and deep, I know he means every word.
Chapter Twelve
Archer
The sun is barely up, the early light slipping through the windows of my cabin, casting long shadows over the floor. But I’m not paying attention to the sunrise. I’m watching Bella, her body tangled in the sheets beside me, her hair a wild mess of curls splayed over the pillow. She’s everything I never thought I needed, and now that I’ve got her here, I’m never letting her go.
She stirs, her lashes fluttering open, and those warm, dark eyes lock onto mine. A lazy smile spreads across her face, and I feel something deep inside me settle, like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
