Chapter 13 Continued

"Thank you, Ellis," Ava replies.

Ellis walks over to me. “You stay safe, son. I can’t be losing another.” 

I nod as Ellis disappears through the door back into the night, leaving Ava and me alone in the tiny space. 

Ava looks at me, “You cold?”

“I’ll get the fire lit. You seek out the scotch. It’s been a long day,” I reply.  

“Sounds like a plan,” Ava says as she heads to the little kitchen. 

I turn to the fire to see it already set with a box of matches sitting in front of it. I have a feeling Ellis might have been up here sooner than he would have me believe. 

I kneel by the hearth, strike a match, and touch it towards the dry paper that sits beneath the wood. Flames leap to life as Ava returns with the hidden bottle of scotch and two glasses. 

“Well, that was easy,” Ava says.

“I think it was meant to be,” I reply. 

Ava pours and hands me a drink. She settles into one of the chairs as I take one of the throws off the back of one of the chairs and throw it over her. 

"Thank you," she murmurs, her eyes locked on mine. The intensity of her gaze draws me in, the unspoken desire between us crackling like sparks from the fire. 

"Well, that was one bastard of a day," Ava says, knocking back her scotch.

“I’ll drink to that,” I reply as my eyes flick nervously between hers and the fire. 

“So what now?” Ava asks me.

“A bedtime story?” I joke. 

“You’re such a dick, Breaker,” Ava says. 

I look at her, “That’s the first time today you have called me by my name.”

We look at each other, and the only sound between us is the crackling of the fire. 

“We should get some sleep,” Ava suggests, but I really don’t want to sleep right now. I want her here, to have her beside me, never let her leave my gaze again. 

"You take the bed," I suggest, my voice gentle but firm. 

"Are you sure?" she asks, hesitating. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine," I assure her, my true self aching, longing to join her, to feel her skin on mine and taste her lips like I used to. 

"Goodnight, Breaker," Ava says, getting up and making her way towards the bedroom. 

"Good night," I reply, watching her close the door of the bedroom. I pour myself another drink and settle into the chair in front of the fire. 

I long to be in there with her, and for the first time, I know she feels the same, yet we are forced into this dangerous dance where angels fear to tread. 

I down another scotch and take comfort, both from the heat of the fire and knowing that Ava is safe and near. I’ll keep watch and let the fire play out its stories for my amusement as the darkness falls into light, endlessly repeating.