Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
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.
His hands slide under my shirt, his fingers grazing my bare skin, and I gasp, arching into him. “Archer…”
“God, Bella,” he murmurs, his voice thick with need as his lips trail down my neck, “I need you. Always.”
I shiver, but it has nothing to do with the cold. “I’m yours,” I whisper back, my voice trembling but my heart steady. “Always.”
Everything about Archer astounds me. He moves with a confidence that draws me in, making me feel both safe and electrified. His presence, the way his hands skim over me, and the way he looks at me like I’m the only thing that matters—it makes my heart race and my body hum with anticipation.
“Thank you for such a wonderful picnic,” I murmur, even though we didn’t even get a chance to eat yet.
He doesn’t say anything, but the way his hand tightens around mine, how he pulls me closer, tells me everything I need to know. With him is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
His soft sigh against my mouth, the way he kisses me back so tenderly, sets my nerves on fire. My body melts into his, and I feel the cool air against my skin as he trails his hand across my shoulders, pushing my hair to one side.
His eyes meet mine, glistening in the soft light, and that smile—God, that smile. It’s the smile that makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world. He kisses me again, and everything inside me ignites. I lose myself in the way his lips move against mine, in the warmth of his hands that explore my body, pulling me deeper into him.
Before I know it, our lips are devouring every inch of skin we can find. His hands slip beneath the simple dress I’d chosen today, just for him. His touch is urgent, but it’s filled with something more—something that makes my heart race faster.
"Archer," I breathe, his name falling from my lips as if it’s the only word that matters. I work at the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel the heat of his skin, to close the space between us. As soon as my fingers find the warm, hard plane of his chest, I can’t stop. I need him—now.
“Hurry,” I plead, my voice a desperate whisper as I lie back, my hair wild beneath me on the cool grass. My heart is pounding, and every inch of me is aching for him. “I want you, Archer.”
He groans, a sound that rumbles deep in his chest, sending a shiver through me. "So sweet," he whispers, kissing a snowflake from my nose and finally pulling his zipper down. When I reach for him, my hand wrapping around his hard length, the feel of him makes my breath catch. I can see the hunger in his eyes, the raw need that mirrors my own.