Page 58 of Passions Ignite

Zoey let go of her hand and leaned back, closing her eyes. “We’re going to be okay, you know,” she said. “No matter what happens.”

Lux nodded, her gaze fixed on Zoey’s face. “Yeah,” she echoed. “We’ll be okay.”

Lux wanted to reach out again, touch Zoey and feel her close, but she held back, not wanting to push too far. She had to remind herself to stay calm and not let her emotions get the better of her.

Zoey reached out and gently cupped Lux’s cheek, her thumb brushing lightly against her skin. “I’m just glad I found you.”

Lux’s breath hitched at the touch, her heart pounding. She leaned into Zoey’s hand, closing her eyes as she savored the moment. Their connection felt undeniable.

Zoey leaned in closer, her breath warm against Lux’s skin. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Lux opened her eyes, meeting Zoey’s gaze. The intensity in Zoey’s eyes sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt herself leaning in, closing the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, one that quickly deepened as they lost themselves in the moment.

Zoey’s hand slid down to Lux’s waist, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified. Lux’s hands found their way to Zoey’s shoulders, gripping them tightly as the heat between them grew. She could feel the tension melting away, replaced by something much more powerful.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathless, their hearts racing in sync. Lux rested her forehead against Zoey’s. Her eyes closed as she tried to calm the whirlwind of emotions inside her.

Zoey’s voice was soft when she spoke, her breath still heavy. “We should probably get some rest.”

Lux nodded, though sleep was the last thing on her mind. “Yeah.”

They shifted slightly, making themselves more comfortable on the hard ground. Zoey wrapped an arm around Lux, pulling her close, and Lux nestled into her embrace, feeling a sense of safety and warmth that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

As they lay there, the makeshift tent providing a barrier against the outside world, Lux allowed herself to relax. She listened to the steady rhythm of Zoey’s breathing, letting it soothe her as she drifted closer to sleep.

Zoey’s voice broke the silence, a soft murmur that made Lux’s heart flutter. “I’m glad you’re here with me, Lux.”

Lux smiled, her eyes still closed as she replied, “I’m glad you’re here too.”

22

ZOEY

Zoey kept her eyes closed, feeling Lux’s chest’s gentle rise and fall against her side. It felt nice, like everything was okay at that small moment. She could stay like this forever, just the two of them, hidden away from the world. Zoey let herself get lost in the rhythm of Lux’s breathing, letting it calm her.

She was awake, but she didn’t want to break the stillness.

Zoey could feel the soft brush of her hair against her cheek, the faint warmth of her breath on her neck. She reached out, her fingers barely grazing Lux’s cheek. The touch was so light, so careful, like she was afraid to wake her.

Her heart squeezed in her chest as she took in Lux’s features. The curve of her lips, her eyelashes rested against her skin, the faint freckles across her nose—everything about Lux was beautiful to Zoey. She let her hand fall away, feeling a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

She cared about Lux more than she had allowed herself to realize. It scared her how much she felt, how deeply she cared. It wasn’t just the physical attraction.

It was more. She wanted this, wanted Lux.

Zoey thought about the last time they made love as she lay there, watching Lux sleep. Zoey felt a lump rise in her throat.

Zoey’s mind wandered to how Lux had leaned into her, how their kiss had felt so right, so natural. It wasn’t just about survival or the situation they were in. It was about their connection and the bond that had grown between them over the past few days. She didn’t want to lose that. She couldn’t lose that.

Lux’s eyes fluttered open. “Morning,” she said softly.

“Morning,” Zoey said. She felt a nervousness in her stomach, but she pushed it down, trying to keep her expression calm.

Lux stretched, her hand brushing against Zoey’s arm again, and Zoey felt a shiver run down her spine. She wanted to say something, anything to break the silence that had settled between them, but her mind was blank. All she could think about was how close Lux was and how much she wanted to reach out and touch her again.

Lux shifted onto her side, facing Zoey. “You okay?”

Zoey nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah.”