PROTECT

“The way I love you is as unstoppable as flames coming over a mountain. I could never fight it,” he murmurs, his thumbs tracing my waist under my robe.

“Every hotshot knows you don’t fight a fire.” I grin as his lips dot my neck with kisses. “You can’t stop it, only harness it and guide it right?”

“That’s right, and with you, I’ll stay as close to the flame as I can, Vi. Because, fuck, we burn so goddamn good together.”

“Mmm,” I mutter. “That is true.”

“Just come home, Rowan.” She gulps back more tears with a small smile. “And maybe it will be the first thing I say to you when you do,” she says in a whisper.

Fight for those who can’t. Protect those we can. Honor the ones we’ve lost.