“Another promise?” His voice was low, his body tense with vulnerability. “Even after I broke the last one?”
“No, you never did.” She placed her fingertip on his lips when he protested. “You taught me to be strong, to survive. Your lessons when we mushed—thoughts of the hardships and torture you were going through to save others—all of it gave me the courage to fight my own battles. To find my strength to survive.” She cupped her still-bandaged palm against his cheek. “No, you kept your promise that you’d always be there for me, just not in the way either of us ever expected. But it was the way both of us needed.”
His eyes searched hers, then closed with a shuddering breath. A tear rushed down his cheek, sliding along his beard until it collided with her bandage. She wiped the next one with her thumb and pressed her forehead to his.
“I love you, Julie Karen Sparks.” His words hitched, and he took a deep breath. “With everything that is in me.”
“Good, because I never stopped loving you.” She kissed his lips. “Not one second of the fifteen years”—she kissed him again—“four months”—and again—“and sixteen days since you left for basic.”
The last kiss she lingered on the corner of his mouth that always tipped up in amusement. She laughed against his lips as he sat up with a growl, bringing her with him, wrapping her legs around his waist, then pushing her hair behind her ear. His touch was a flame burning heat down her neck.
He tilted his head, his nose rubbing against hers. When he finally claimed her mouth, his soft and languid kiss shifted to deep and all-consuming. His reverence for her expressed in his trembling fingers as they traced her face, her neck, the curve of her ear, everywhere he could explore, lighting little fires along her skin.
“I can’t… I can’t leave you again. Not even for a day,” he whispered against her lips, exploding joy through her body.
“Then don’t.” She leaned back, stared into his eyes, and took a deep breath. She wanted all of it, this man, her dreams, and she was going after it, no matter if others, mainly her cousin, ruffled up like fussy ptarmigans. “Marry me. Stay. Mush the remaining trails of our lives with me.”
His smile grew slow and languid like his kiss, turning her to boiling lava. “Now, that sounds like an adventure I can’t refuse.”
“Good.” She tightened her hold on him, kissing him until they were both breathless. “Good, because our first trail is leading us to the North Pole.”
He shook his head, but the action held no argument. His gaze traveled over her face as he cupped her neck, his thumbs sliding over her cheekbone and along her jaw. His kiss was quick and soft, full of determination.
“Then, we better stop snogging and get moving.” His forced exasperation had her chuckling.
She pecked him one last time and scrambled out of the sleeping bag. They had a lot of work before they could get back on the trail, but she didn’t mind. Together, they’d make it all the way to the top of the world. From there, they’d figure out their next adventure.