20. Epilogue

12 months later

Axel

Isit on the verandah of Kyle's cottage with a steaming mug of coffee between my hands. The crisp morning air fills my lungs as I watch the horizon, waiting for the sun's first rays to paint the sky. Footsteps approach from behind and I smile, knowing it's him.

Kyle settles beside me, his warm body pressing close. I wrap an arm around him, and he rests his head against my shoulder with a contented sigh. The scent of his shampoo mingles with the aroma of my coffee, as the sky lightens to a lavender blue with orange streaks, and I feel lucky to have such a perfect start to the day.

"Morning, babe," I say, planting a kiss on his sleep-messed hair.

"Mmm, morning," he replies, voice still rough with sleep. "You're up early."

"Couldn't sleep. Wanted to catch the sunrise with you." Kyle's day starts as the sun comes up, heading out early to work in the vineyard and beat some of the heat of the day.

He lifts his head and meets my gaze, eyes soft and full of affection. "Bet I can think of a better way to spend the morning."

I chuckle. "Oh really? And what might that be?" My hand slips under the hem of his T-shirt, fingers splaying across the warm skin of his back.

"How about I show you?" He straddles my lap, looping his arms around my neck, hands playing with the hair at my nape. It's shorter now, no longer reaching my shoulders—yet another change I've made this past year.

I set my coffee aside and put my hands on his hips. He leans in, lips hovering just out of reach, teasing, until I move forward and capture his mouth with mine. I lose myself in his taste, in the feel of his body against me, his fingers tugging at my hair.

In moments like these, everything else fades away. The pressures of my career, the expectations, the public scrutiny—none of it matters. With Kyle, I can just be myself. No facades or pretenses. He grounds me, anchors me like nothing else can. Being here with him, it feels right. Like home. I marvel at the turn my life has taken since meeting him—everything is so much better.

We break apart and I rest my forehead against his. "Can you believe it's been a whole year since the cruise?"

He sits back to meet my eyes, his lips curved into a soft smile. "Sometimes it feels like just yesterday, and other times like I've known you forever."

I nod in agreement. "That cruise changed everything. Changed me."

I think back to the man I was then—driven and ambitious, but also lonely and anxious, and missing so much in my life. Kyle brought light and laughter, showed me how to fall in love with my music again, and what it means to truly connect with someone.

"We've come so far since then," Kyle says as he traces random circles on my back. "Not just you and me, but Rick too."

At the mention of my brother, I feel a swell of pride. "He's doing great, isn't he? Really thrown himself into learning about viticulture."

Kyle chuckles. "He's become quite the asset around here, a real farmer, and it's awesome that he's doing so well at college."

"I'm glad he's found his passion," I say, nodding in agreement. "After everything that happened, I wasn't sure he ever would."

"He just needed a fresh start, a chance to figure out who he is without all the baggage of the past."

I hum in agreement, fingers absently tracing the strip of skin between Kyle's T-shirt and the waistband of his shorts. "Living here, working the vineyard, it's been good for him. Grounding."

"He's come into his own. Now he's focused and driven. No more wild nights or reckless behaviour. A lot like his big brother." Kyle's tone is playful, eyes sparkling with mischief.

I laugh. "Hey, I was never that bad!"

Kyle raises an eyebrow. "No? Because I seem to recall some news articles that would dispute that. Headlines about some wild parties. Oh! And then there was that bachelor on the prowl thing?"

I groan, burying my face in the crook of his neck as he snickers. When we first started dating, he did the requisite internet searching and stumbled over articles, both true and some totally exaggerated. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Not on your life," Kyle says cheerfully. "It's far too entertaining."

I retaliate by nipping at his pulse point, enjoying the sharp intake of breath it elicits. "Brat," I mutter against his skin.

"Your brat." He gives me one last kiss before settling back beside me again.

As we watch the changing colours of the sky over the vineyard, there's a familiar sense of melancholy that settles in my chest. These stolen moments with Kyle are precious, but they're fleeting. The thought of leaving him this afternoon, of returning to the chaotic whirlwind of my life in the city, is a dark cloud on the horizon.

"I hate this part," I whisper, my lips brushing against his temple. "Saying goodbye, watching you in the rearview mirror, waving me off. It never gets easier."

His arms tighten around me. "I know. It's hard for me too. The farm feels so empty without you here."

"I wish I could stay. That we didn't have to do this long-distance thing. I miss you every second we're apart."

Kyle pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "I miss you too. More than I can put into words. But we knew it would be like this, at least for a while. Your music, your career… it's important."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I know. And I love what I do. But something's missing. Like I'm torn between two worlds, and never fully present in either."

Kyle's brow furrows. "What are you saying? Do you… do you want to take a break? From us?"

"No!" The word bursts from my lips. That's the last thing I want. I cup his chin and swivel to face him. "Never, Kyle. I just… I can't keep doing this back and forth. It's tearing me apart."

Concern lingers in his eyes. "I don't want to hold you back, Axel. Your music, your fans… they need you."

"I need you. More than anything. And you need me," I say. "I think… well, it's time for a change."

"A change?"

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to say, something I've been thinking about for a while now. "Kyle, what if I moved here? To the vineyard? With you?"

His eyes widen. "What? But your career, your life in the city—"

"I can make it work." I've already thought about all the possibilities. "I can write music anywhere. And when I need to be in the studio, it's only a two-hour drive. If it's more than a day trip, then I'll book a hotel for however long is needed or keep an apartment in Sydney. Or I could rent a studio somewhere closer to here. I'm sure the musicians who support me would be willing to spend some time out of the city. I'll still need to tour, but it's a lot less than it used to be with all the changes I've made." I lace our fingers together. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. To build a life with you."

Kyle's eyes shine and I can read the happiness on his face. "You'd really do that? For me? For us?"

"In a heartbeat," I vow, my voice steady and sure. "You're my home, Kyle. Wherever you are, that's where I belong."

He captures my mouth in a kiss, then pulls back to meet my eyes. "The weeks you're away… they're the longest of my life. I live for these moments when you're here with me."

"Then it's agreed? I'll move here? I was thinking… We could build another house, or I was toying with the idea of buying a vineyard in the area for Rick. I could live there—"

"No!" Kyle says. "I don't want you to live anywhere but here. I want to wake up every morning in your arms, to build a life together here. But are you sure? I don't want you to have any regrets, to resent me later for tying you down. What if you hate small-town life?"

I cup his face, brushing my thumb over the curve of his cheekbone. "Kyle, you are my life. My heart is already here with you. Has been since the moment we met on that cruise. I could never regret choosing a life with you. As long as we're together, we can face anything the future throws our way."

"But—"

I silence him with a kiss.

He melts into my embrace, wrapping his strong arms around me. When we finally break apart, he cups my face with his palms. "I love you, Axel. More than I ever thought possible. And I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my days proving it to you."

Warmth radiates through my body at his words, a lump forming in my throat.

"I love you too, Kyle. You're my forever." It feels so good to say the words. I plan on telling him I love him every day for the rest of my life.

He looks at me, his eyes reflecting the same contentment I feel in my heart. "You know, I have everything I need right here. A beautiful farm, a thriving vineyard, a family I adore, and the love of my life by my side. What more could a man ask for?"

I chuckle softly, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. "You're right. As long as we have each other, everything else is just icing on the cake."

Kyle's smile lights up his entire face, a radiant glow of happiness that mirrors my own. "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

"Absolutely. One hundred percent."

And I know that moving to be with Kyle is the best decision I'll ever make.

Thank you for reading Sun-Kissed.