Beneath the Ashes

Part Thirteen: Rebuilding What Was Lost

Steve was home.

Not in a house. Not in a city.

But home—wherever Christian was.

The first few weeks were tentative. Careful.

There were late-night talks. Slow mornings spent in bed. Hesitant touches that turned into something more.

They had both been broken, but piece by piece, they started putting each other back together.

And for the first time in a long time—

They were happy.

⸻

Falling in Love Again

Dating felt new again—like they were rediscovering each other.

There were movie nights, lazy mornings at coffee shops, long walks in the park where Christian would complain about work, and Steve would tease him about becoming soft.

But Christian wasn't soft.

He was still sharp, still had that fire in him.

And Steve loved him for it.

One afternoon, they stopped by an ice cream shop during one of their dates.

Christian had gone inside to get their orders while Steve waited outside, leaning casually against a lamppost.

It wasn't long before two women approached him, giggling as they exchanged looks.

"Hey," one of them said, twirling her hair. "You look kind of lonely. Want some company?"

Steve smirked, amused.

Before he could even respond, Christian stepped out of the shop, ice creams in hand—only to see what was happening.

And he did not like it.

He walked right up to Steve, shoved the ice cream into his hand, and turned to the women with a sweet but deadly smile.

"He's taken."

The women blinked.

Christian slid an arm around Steve's waist and pulled him close, his fingers curling possessively around his hip.

Steve chuckled under his breath, enjoying the show.

Christian tilted his head. "And just in case you didn't hear me—he's mine."

The women muttered something under their breath and walked away.

Steve leaned down, lips brushing against Christian's ear.

"Jealous, baby?"

Christian scoffed, biting into his ice cream. "Damn right I am."

Steve grinned.

He loved this man so much.