Page 35 of Burning Love

She exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the railing as she let the moment sink in. Five years ago, she wouldn’t have believed this future was possible. Five years ago, she hadn’t even been sure she’d ever live to see something like this.

She didn’t need to turn around to know Alex was there.

The shift of footsteps on the wooden planks, the barely there inhale, before a soft, familiar presence settled at her back. Then warmth—Alex’s arms wrapped around her waist, the solid press of her body against Sophia’s spine.

“Long day?” Alex murmured, her lips brushing against the shell of Sophia’s ear.

Sophia sighed, leaning into the embrace. “Not bad. Just exhausting. The kids were relentless today. You should’ve seen Lily trying to teach them spins. She nearly took out half the class.”

Alex chuckled, a low, affectionate laugh. “She’s got your talent. And your fire.”

“She’s stubborn, you mean,” Sophia said, tilting her head slightly to meet Alex’s gaze.

Alex smirked. “Same thing. Right?”

Sophia huffed, shaking her head. She turned in Alex’s arms, looping her hands behind her wife’s neck. “I reckon you like a little fire, though.”

A slow, lazy smile spread across Alex’s lips. “Damn right, I do.”

Their foreheads touched, the world narrowing to just the two of them. For so long, their love had been a fragile thing—something easily lost, hard to hold onto. But now, with Alex’s hands resting at her hips, it felt solid. Unshakable.

Sophia traced her fingers along Alex’s jaw, brushing over the faint scar just beneath her chin—a reminder of battles fought, of sacrifices made. “We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?”

Alex nodded. “Jeez. Understatement of the decade, babe. I’m so glad I found you.”

A slight tug at Sophia’s skirt broke the moment.

“Mama?”

The soft voice of Lily. A young girl who arrived at camp without anyone had become their adopted daughter.

“Honey! Did you eat?”

“Yes! Mummy fed me. Beans on toast! Yummy!”

“Beans on toast, huh? That’s my English influence if ever I saw it! I’m so proud of you both.”

Lily stood there, barefoot and bright-eyed, her curls wild from the wind. “You said you’d tell me a story before bed.”

Sophia smiled, crouching to tuck a stray curl behind Lily’s ear. “I did, didn’t I?”

Alex ruffled the little girl’s hair, grinning. “How about we both tell you one?”

Lily gasped dramatically, as if this were the most exciting thing in the world. “Two stories?!”

“Two people telling it,” Sophia corrected, tapping her daughter’s nose. “But just the one story.”

Lily giggled, grabbing their hands and tugging them inside. Their home was small, but full of books they’d salvaged on their travels, stacked in every available corner. Wildflowers rested in mason jars, and the scent of lavender lingered in the air from the homemade beeswax candles Sophia had lit earlier.

Lily clambered onto the bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin with a practiced routine. “Tell me the one about the brave warrior and the lost queen.”

Sophia and Alex exchanged a glance.

“That’s our story,” Alex murmured.

Lily grinned knowingly. “I know! I know! It’s my absolute favorite! The story of when you were little!”

“Well, we weren’t that little!” Sophia giggled.

---