I didn’t regret one thing, from the fight in the airport to the rainstorm to the creek. It had all led to this.
This, as scary as it was to hope for forever, was something worth waiting for.
He turned back to me, his impossibly dark eyes holding mine. “So we’re really doing this, you and me?”
I nodded. “We won’t be the couple who goes on a date every Friday night or wakes up together every morning. Our sex life will probably involve more strange locations than actual beds but yeah. We’re doing this.”
He kissed me again, his softening cock still inside me.
Even with a wildfire raging and my fellow firefighters throwing jokes in the background, it was still everything.
We didn’t need perfect.
We wouldn’t have a totally normal life but as long as we had each other and the desire to try, we would make it work.
I knew he would have to leave soon.
I knew that right now we didn’t have the luxury of a night in each other’s arms but this wasn’t goodbye like it was after I’d picked up my shoes by the creek.
This was a ‘see you soon’ or ‘I’ll call you.’
I ran my hand down his back, his skin tacky with sweat. His beard tickled my neck and I let it, knowing I would miss it as soon as he was gone.
We hadn’t known each other long enough for me to be hopingfor more as much as I was, but there was a connection and willingness on both sides that had been missing in every person I’d met before except him.
“I should let you get some sleep,” he whispered against my neck.
I nodded but neither of us moved.
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to message me all the time but can you let me know when you’re safe?” he asked, pulling back and meeting my eyes.
“I’ll send you an airplane emoji when I’m back at camp each night. How’s that?”
He laughed. “Perfect. It can be our symbol not to worry.”
I nodded, “and you’ll do the same?”
“I promise,” he kissed the tip of my nose then pulled out of me and started getting dressed.
Once we were both dressed we shared one last long kiss. “Talk to you soon,” I said. He nodded and left the tent.
Another round of hooting started as he climbed out and he took it easily, bowing before he picked his way back across the field to where he was parked.
“Is that your boyfriend?” A firefighter standing nearby asked me.
I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s him. Jasper’s my boyfriend.” It was such a simple thing to say but the word felt huge. He had become something I didn’t think I’d ever have. This was the start of something special.
Epilogue - Eighteen Months Later
Wren
Istepped up to the counter at the airport and presented my information to the woman working there. Jasper was one counter over getting checked in too. A year and a half ago, we had been in a similar situation. That day had ended with me on a plane and him sleeping on the floor. This would end with us on a beach in Maui, the first real vacation we’d taken as a couple.
It had taken us a long time to get to where we were now. It was both of our busy seasons when we decided to try texting.
Text messages just aren’t the same as intimacy.
Anytime we were together though the fireworks were too real to ignore, so we persevered. Getting to know each other, one little piece at a time.
