Epilogue

E mma–two weeks later

The stream glistens under the late afternoon sun, turning the water into a shifting ribbon of gold and silver as it rushes over smooth stones. The air smells like pine and fresh snowmelt, crisp and clean, the kind of air that makes your lungs feel brand new with every breath. I wade in, my toes sinking into the cool silt, shivering as the water creeps up my legs. The cold bites at first, but there’s something invigorating about it—something that makes me feel alive, free.

Slate hangs back near the bank, arms crossed over his chest, that familiar smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. He watches me, eyes dark and intense, like he’s drinking in the sight of me standing there, water lapping at my thighs. “You sure you can handle this, city girl?” His voice is low, teasing, but there’s a challenge there too, the kind that always gets under my skin.

I shoot him a look, splashing water in his direction, laughing when he flinches, droplets sparkling in his hair like diamonds. “If you think a little cold water is going to scare me off, Slate Warner, you’ve got another thing coming.” My voice carries a bite, but the truth is, being here with him—just us and the stream and the wildness of this place—has my heart racing.

He steps into the water, his gaze locked on me, and I can’t help but notice the way the muscles in his arms and shoulders move beneath the skin, the way the sunlight plays over him, turning his hair almost golden. He wades closer, the water rising to his hips, his smirk widening into something wicked. “Oh, I know you’re tough, Emma. But maybe you’ve forgotten how persuasive I can be.”

His voice sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the cold. He catches me by the waist, pulling me against him, the water swirling around us, and suddenly the chill is the last thing on my mind. His breath brushes my ear, warm and rough, making my pulse spike. “You always were easy to rile up,” he murmurs, his hands slipping down to my hips, holding me close enough that I can feel the heat of him through the water.

I roll my eyes, but my heart thuds harder in my chest, betraying me. “Maybe you should worry about keeping up with me, mountain man,” I shoot back, even though my voice comes out breathier than I mean for it to.

Slate’s grip tightens, and his expression shifts—something softer slipping into his eyes, something that makes my heart twist. For a moment, he just looks at me, like he’s trying to memorize every detail. The air between us changes, the playful banter giving way to something deeper, more serious. He’s so close, his chest brushing against mine, our breaths mingling in the space between us, and I feel my pulse stutter, like my body knows something big is coming even if my mind hasn’t caught up yet.

“You look like the cat who just caught the canary,” I say as I push aside the loose strands of damp hair bouncing on his forehead.

“It’s hard not to feel smug when you wake up to the most beautiful girl in the world,” he leans in and kisses me. He pushes my lips open with his tongue, melding it with mine. He tastes like hot cocoa and whiskey, a mixture that I never would have thought would taste like pure bliss.

“If I died right now, I would die a happy man.” He nuzzles my neck. Here nothing else exists but the two of us. Nothing in the real world can impact us. I never want to leave.

“You think we can hide up here on the mountain forever?” I ask, exposing more of my neck to give Slate more exposure. His hands roam down my body, kneading my breasts and causing me to moan.

“I love how responsive you are. You like it when I do this baby girl?” He asks as he twists my nipple. “Tell Daddy what you want.” He demands.

When the words don't come fast enough he twists a little harder.

“I need...” I pant not being able to form the sentence, lost in a fog of lust.

“What do you need?” he asks again.

“I need to feel you touch me down there.”

“Touch you where?” he asks.

“Down there,” I moan.

“Say the word, baby. I want to hear the word coming out of your sexy lips.”

“I want you to touch my pussy. Please big dick Daddy, touch my pussy?” I beg. That's all Slate needs because his hand is on my clit rubbing me.

“I love how wet you get for me. You have any idea how hard you make my cock? How many years you've made my rock hard for you? For this sexy little cunt?” he asks before he slaps my pussy, causing me to scream. The slap stings but it also floods me with need and desire as the chilly river water rushes around us.

“What are we going to do with this greedy little cunt of yours? I think I need to have a little taste of this juicy little peach,” he says before moving me onto a boulder that rises out of the rushing river, placing his nose directly over me. He inhales deeply. “Such a sweet little cunt,” he whispers before taking a long lick.

He continues to probe me with his tongue, between his pleasurable assaults and all the dirty talk, I'm going insane. Just as I think I can't take any more, he inserts one finger, and then two.

“You're so tight baby. I'm surprised you were able to take my cock last night,” he breathes before inserting a third finger. That's all I need before my orgasm takes over my entire body and I scream my release.

“That’s it baby. Let me hear you,” he says moving his fingers in and out of me, allowing me to cum all over them. He removes his fingers and brings them over to my mouth. “Open,” he says before inserting his fingers into my mouth and letting me taste them. “Isn't that the best thing you've ever tasted?” he asks and I moan.

Slate gathers me in his arms. I love how he can be so filthy one moment and in the next hold me like I'm precious.

Before I can think too much about it, he steps back, his hands sliding away, and a slow, sly smile spreads across his face. Without breaking eye contact, he sinks down onto one knee, coming face to face with my pussy as the water rushes around his shoulders.

I freeze, my breath catching in my throat, my hands reaching out instinctively, grasping his shoulders.

“Marry me, Emma. Make me the happiest man in Colorado and say you’ll be my wife.”

Tears crash down my cheeks as I nod emphatically. “Yes. A thousand yeses! Of course I’ll marry you!”