Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Always,” I agree, tightening my hold on her.
We lie there for a while, the silence comfortable, the bond between us stronger than ever. I feel a sense of contentment settle over me, a realization that this is what I’ve been searching for all along. Not just love, but a partner, a fighter—someone who’s willing to face the darkness and come out stronger on the other side.
Lark shifts slightly, her head resting on my chest, her voice filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability.
“So, what’s next?” she asks, her tone playful but sincere.
I smile, my fingers brushing through her hair. “Whatever we want,” I say simply. “We’ve got a whole life ahead of us. No more running. No more fear.”
She lifts her head, her eyes bright with hope. “Promise?”
“Promise,” I reply, sealing it with a kiss that’s both possessive and tender, filled with all the love I’ve been holding back for so long.
I move her to my bed, and we fall asleep tangled together, the weight of the past finally lifted, the promise of the future clear and strong. I know there will be challenges, but I also know that we’ll face them together—stronger, fiercer, and more in love than ever.
And as I hold Lark in my arms, I know one thing for sure: we’ve found our home. Here, on Devil’s Peak, in each other’s arms. It’s not just passion or survival anymore. It’s everything.
Epilogue
Lark–one month later
The river is quieter today, its rush a soft murmur beneath the summer sun. It’s been weeks since I stood here, a mess of fear and desperation. But now, everything feels different—calm, settled. I look down at my reflection in the water and see something new in my eyes: peace. There’s a certainty here that wasn’t there before. A wild, untamed certainty that comes from finally knowing where I belong.
I lean back against a sun-warmed boulder, letting the cool water lap at my toes. I’m wearing Hunter’s flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, and nothing else. It smells like him—pine, smoke, and something ruggedly masculine. The shirt is a little too big, hanging off one shoulder, but I love it that way. It feels like a claim, a mark of possession that I welcome.
Hunter emerges from the trees, his gaze locking onto me like I’m the only thing worth looking at. His dark eyes glint with that familiar hunger, the kind that sends a rush of heat straight to my core. He’s shirtless, his muscles hard and glistening with sweat from the hike down. My heart stutters in my chest, the sight of him still having the same devastating effect, even after all these weeks.
“Comfortable, are we?” he teases, his voice a low rumble as he steps closer.
I stretch my legs out, letting the water ripple around my bare thighs. “Very,” I reply, a smirk tugging at my lips. “But you seem a little overdressed.”
His grin is slow, predatory. “Is that an invitation?”
“Maybe,” I say, letting my voice drop to a playful whisper. “Or maybe I just want to see if you’re as distracted as you look.”
He’s on me in an instant, his body pressing mine against the rock, his hands rough and possessive.
“You think you can distract me?” he growls, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.
“Seems like it’s working,” I taunt, my voice breathy, my pulse racing.
Hunter’s mouth crashes down on mine, a hard, demanding kiss that leaves no room for doubt. I respond with equal ferocity, my fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer, needing more. His hand slides up my thigh, his touch both teasing and insistent.
“You drive me crazy,” he murmurs against my lips, his voice low and hoarse.
“Good,” I manage to say, my words a mix of challenge and surrender.
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze intense, filled with a raw, unfiltered love that’s still new enough to make me breathless. “You’re mine, Lark,” he says, his voice rough with possession. “You’ll always be mine.”
I smile, the words settling warmly in my chest.
“And you’ll always be mine, my very own mountain man,” I whisper back, my voice steady, sure.
He lifts me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me to the riverbank. He sets me down gently, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Stay right there,” he orders, his voice a mix of command and tenderness.
I watch, curious, as he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small, black velvet box. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat.
“What…?” I start to ask, but my voice falters.
Hunter drops to one knee, his gaze steady, unwavering. “Lark,” he begins, his voice soft but full of intensity, “I never thought I’d find someone who could match me—who could handle everything that comes with this life and still want to be part of it.”