Page 45 of Sun-Kissed
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 needyou. 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.
