When it’s over, we’re tangled in the sheets, the firelight casting a soft glow over the room, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel completely at peace. She’s here. She’s mine. And I’m not letting her slip away.
She rests her head against my chest, her fingers drawing lazy patterns on my skin. “You really mean it, don’t you? You want me here… for good.”
I press a kiss to the top of her head, my voice steady. “More than anything.”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I can feel the last of her hesitation melting away. When she finally speaks, her voice is soft, but sure. “I think I’m ready for that.”
I tighten my arms around her, my heart swelling with something deep and solid. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”
She lifts her head to look at me, and I can see it—the certainty, the trust, the love. It’s all there, written in her eyes, and I know she’s not running anymore. She’s here. With me. For good.
I pull her in for another kiss, slow and deep, and as her lips move against mine, I know this is it. This is everything we’ve been building toward, the start of something real, something lasting.
And I’m ready for it. We both are.
Epilogue
Bella–six weeks later
The mountain air bites at my skin, crisp and cold, but it only sharpens the thrill that runs through me as Archer’s hand tightens around mine. I glance up at him as we hike the last stretch of the trail, the sun slipping lower in the sky, casting a golden light that seems to melt into the trees. He’s been quiet for most of the hike, which is unlike him—usually he’s teasing, playful, but today there’s a charge in the air that I can’t quite name.
“Are you going to keep dragging me up this mountain, or are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I tease, trying to lighten the mood, but my heart is already racing in a way that has nothing to do with the hike.
He glances down at me, his lips curving into a slow smile. “You’ll see.”
My pulse quickens. That look in his eyes, the way his grip tightens just a little—it sends a shiver down my spine. I should be used to the way Archer can make me feel like this by now, but every time, it’s like he strips away every layer of composure I try to cling to.
We crest the top of the trail, and suddenly, the lake comes into view. It’s nestled between the peaks, the water perfectly still, reflecting the deep blues of the sky. It’s breathtaking, but all I can focus on is him. Archer pauses at the edge of the lake, turning to face me, and for a second, the world seems to stop.
There’s something in his expression I haven’t seen before. Something deeper, more raw.
“What’s going on with you today?” I ask, my voice softer now. The playful edge is gone, replaced by a quiet intensity that mirrors his own.
Archer doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he steps closer, his hands sliding up my arms, pulling me against him. His touch is steady, grounding, but the way his eyes lock onto mine makes my heart stutter.
“Bella,” he begins, his voice low, rough with emotion, “you know I’m not one for speeches.”
I laugh, but it’s shaky, my chest tightening as I wait for him to continue. “Oh, is that so?”
He lets out a breath, brushing a strand of hair away from my face, his fingers lingering at the edge of my jaw. “You’ve changed everything for me. Not just Copper Mountain. Not just my life here. You’ve changed me.”
His words hit me like a punch, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. The weight of what he’s saying settles over me, and I’m lost in the intensity of his gaze, the vulnerability there.
“Archer…” I start, but my voice falters as he drops to one knee.
My breath leaves me in a rush, and time seems to freeze. I stare at him, my heart pounding so hard I can barely hear anything else. Archer’s already reaching into his pocket, pulling out a small box. His fingers are steady, more steady than I feel right now, as he opens it, revealing a simple, stunning ring.
“Marry me, Bella,” he says, his voice a raw whisper. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I don’t want to. You belong here—in Copper Mountain–with me.”
I blink, trying to process what’s happening, but all I can see is the love in his eyes, the depth of what he’s offering. His heart. His life.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I laugh—a shaky, breathless sound. “Yes, I’d love to marry you.”
Archer grins, standing and pulling me into his arms before I can even catch my breath. His lips crash down on mine, fierce and desperate, like he’s been holding onto this moment for too long. I kiss him back with everything I have, my arms winding around his neck as the world falls away, leaving only him.
Before I know it, we’re sinking down onto the soft spring grass by the lake, his body pressing against mine, his hands roaming over my skin with a kind of urgency that leaves me dizzy. The cold air bites at my cheeks, but I barely feel it. All I can focus on is him—the heat of his skin, the strength of his arms around me, the way his lips move against mine, claiming me in a way that feels deeper than any kiss we’ve shared before.
April snowflakes begin to fall, light and delicate, but neither of us notices. The world could be falling apart, and I wouldn’t care, not with the way Archer’s touch sets me on fire.
