14. Zoey

14

ZOEY

Z oey lay next to Lux, her body still tingling from the aftershocks of their lovemaking.

The air around them felt warm and heavy with the lingering scent of sweat and earth. Zoey turned on her side, propping herself up on one elbow to look at Lux. She was still catching her breath, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that was almost hypnotic.

"That was...amazing," Zoey said softly, her voice still a little breathless.

Lux smiled, her eyes half-closed in contentment. "Yeah, it was."

For a moment, they just looked at each other, the silence between them comfortable and easy. Zoey reached out, her fingers brushing a strand of hair away from Lux's face. The touch was light, almost reverent.

"I'm glad you're here," Zoey said.

Lux opened her eyes fully, meeting Zoey's gaze. There was a softness in her expression, a vulnerability that Zoey hadn't seen before. "Glad you're stuck in the Phoenix Ridge forests with me?"

Zoey laughed. "I wouldn't wish to be trapped here with anyone else."

"I guess that's some comfort anyway," Lux said. "I bet if my dad were here, he'd tease me about having my partner's back."

"Sounds like a great guy."

"He is. He always says that being a firefighter is more than just a job; it was a calling. He believes in it so much, and I guess that belief just rubbed off on me."

"That's why you joined the fire department, isn't it? To follow in his footsteps?"

"Yeah," Lux said, a hint of pride returning to her voice. "I wanted to help people, like he did."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

Lux chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I'm just doing my job, Zoey."

Zoey shook her head, her expression earnest. "No, it's more than that. You're brave, and strong, and you care so much about the people around you. That's not just doing your job; that's being an incredible person."

Lux looked at her, a warmth in her blue eyes that made Zoey's heart flutter. "Thank you."

"He's still in Phoenix Ridge?" Zoey asked. "Your father?"

"Yeah. Sometimes he shows up at the station just to give the Chief Thompson hell."

Zoey raised her brow. "Hell?"

"In a good way," Lux said, laughing. "Chief Thompson is...well, she's like a mother to me, really."

Zoey could hear the affection in Lux's voice, and it made her smile. "It sounds like you're really close."

"We are."

"And Jay?" Zoey asked, curious about the person Lux spent so much time with in the air.

"Jay." Lux said, a fond smile spreading across her face. "She's a good woman. A bit of a joker, but she's solid. We've been partners for a while now, and there's no one else I'd trust more up there with me. She's always got my back."

"That's nice."

They fell into a comfortable silence

Zoey let the quiet linger, savoring the warmth of Lux's hand in hers. She could feel the steady beat of her own heart, a comforting rhythm that seemed to sync with Lux's breathing. The world outside their little bubble had faded away, leaving only the two of them, connected in a way that felt both profound and intimate.

Lux's fingers tightened around hers, grounding her in the moment. Zoey's gaze drifted over Lux's face, taking in the way her lips curved into a gentle smile, the way her eyes held a softness that made Zoey's chest ache with something she couldn't quite name.

"Can I ask you something?" Zoey said, her voice breaking the silence.

"Of course," Lux replied, her thumb still tracing slow circles on Zoey's hand.

Zoey hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Why did you become a firefighter? I mean, I know you said you wanted to follow in your dad's footsteps, but...why this? Why something so dangerous?"

Lux's smile faded a little. "It's a good question. I guess part of it is that I just loved the thrill. With my dad being my only parent, I grew up having a thing for danger."

Zoey nodded. "That makes sense."

"Dad didn't think it did at first."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So I first became a pilot."

"Smart."

"But it's more than that too. There's something about it...the adrenaline, the challenge. It's like every time I go out there, I'm reminded of what I'm capable of. It's hard to explain, but it's almost like...it gives me a purpose."

"You're really brave, you know that?" Zoey felt a surge of admiration for Lux, for the courage it took to face danger day in and day out.

Lux's lips quivered into a small smile. "I don't always feel brave. Sometimes I'm scared out of my mind. But I think that's part of it too."

"I think that makes you even braver. Doing what needs to be done, even when you feel scared."

Lux's smile widened, a warmth spreading through her eyes. "Thanks, Zoey."

Zoey returned the smile, her heart feeling light and full at the same time. She shifted closer, her body drawn to Lux's like a magnet. Their legs brushed together, and Zoey felt a spark of electricity pass between them, a reminder of the passion they had shared earlier.

She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Lux's in a soft, tender kiss. Lux responded immediately, her hand sliding up to cup Zoey's cheek, holding her close as their lips moved together in a slow, deliberate dance.

The kiss deepened, and Zoey felt a rush of warmth spread through her body, a sensation that was both comforting and exhilarating. She could feel Lux's heartbeat against her chest and the way their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly.

When they finally pulled away, Zoey's breath was ragged, her lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. Lux's eyes were full of longing, and Zoey felt a similar pull deep within her own chest.

"Zoey?" Lux murmured, her voice low and full of emotion.

"I'm right here."

Lux's lips curved into a soft smile, and she leaned in to kiss Zoey again, this time slower, savoring the moment. Zoey melted into the kiss, her hands sliding up to tangle in Lux's hair, holding her close as their lips moved together in a perfect rhythm.

When they finally broke apart, Zoey rested her forehead against Lux's, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Then she leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Lux's lips, savoring the warmth and tenderness that passed between them.

Lux's hand moved to Zoey's hair, her fingers gently stroking through the strands. Zoey let out a soft sigh of contentment, feeling completely at peace in Lux's arms.

Zoey took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I wasn't just transferred here," she began. "I requested a transfer."

Lux shifted slightly. "What were you running away from?"

Zoey's lips twitched into a small smile. "I was the leader of a team in the department. We were a tight-knit group, and we worked together for years. We went into disaster zones and pulled people out of collapsed buildings, that sort of thing."

Lux's eyes held a mixture of curiosity and understanding. "What happened?"

Zoey felt a lump form in her throat, and she had to take a moment to steady herself before continuing. "There was...an incident. We were responding to a call. A fire had broken out in this old building, and there were people trapped inside. We went in, did what we always did—worked together and got as many people out as we could."

Zoey paused, her breath hitching slightly as the memories came rushing back. She could see the flames and thick smoke; she felt the heat against her skin.

Lux's hand slipped into hers, squeezing gently. "You don't have to talk about it if it's too hard."

Zoey shook her head, swallowing against the tightness in her throat. "No, I need to. I've kept this inside for too long."

She took another deep breath, willing herself to keep going. "We were almost done, almost out. But then,we heard this sound. It was faint but unmistakable: a child crying. We couldn't just leave, you know? We had to go back."

Zoey closed her eyes, the memory playing out in her mind like a movie she couldn't turn off.

"We split up, covering more ground that way. But the fire was getting worse, spreading faster than we expected. The heat was intense, and the smoke was so thick it was hard to see, hard to breathe."

She felt the tears welling up in her eyes, and she blinked them back, determined to keep going.

"I found the child. She was so small and scared. I picked her up and tried to get her out as fast as I could, but the fire...it was everywhere. There was no clear path out."

Lux's other hand cupped Zoey's cheek, her thumb brushing away a tear that had slipped free.

"Zoey..."

Zoey's voice cracked, and she had to stop for a moment, the pain of the memory almost too much to bear.

"We were trapped. And then...the floor gave way. I don't remember much after that except the sound of everything collapsing around us. And the heat...the heat was unbearable."

Lux's arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Zoey could feel the warmth of Lux's body against hers, could feel the steady rise and fall of Lux's chest as she breathed. It was comforting, grounding her in the present, even as the past threatened to pull her under.

"We lost her," Zoey whispered. "We lost the child. And I lost part of myself that day."

Lux's hold on her tightened, and Zoey could feel the tears streaming down her face now, hot and unchecked. She buried her face in Lux's shoulder, her body shaking with the force of her emotions.

"If only I'd been a little more careful," Zoey said. "If only I'd focused more on saving people than just fighting the fires, that kid would've lived."

Lux's grip felt tighter around Zoey's body. "That explains why you wanted a rescue-first operation."

Zoey nodded, saying nothing.

They stayed like that for a while longer, the silence between them filled with unspoken understanding. Zoey felt a sense of peace settle over her, a feeling of safety that she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Thank you," Zoey said.

Lux smiled, her eyes soft and full of warmth. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you felt like you could share that part of yourself with me."

When they pulled back, Zoey rested her forehead against Lux's, her breath mingling with Lux's in the small space between them.

"I don't know what comes next," Zoey said. "But I'd hoped that Phoenix Ridge would save me."

"It will, if you let it," Lux said and her dreamy blue eyes focussed on Zoey.

"Right now, we should focus on getting more food to eat. Those berries won't save us for long."

"I bet if we followed that little stream a little, we'd find some fish," Zoey said.

"You bet or you know?"

"Wild guess," Zoey said.

"Let's catch our breath before checking it out," Lux said. "Deal?"

Zoey laughed. "Deal."