Page 38 of Passions Ignite

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 buriedher 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.”

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