firefighter · texas setting · survivor guilt · protective · religious · stubborn · romance · trauma · leadership · hot chocolate
The wind howls with a predatory intensity, hurling shattered branches against the glass. Inside, the world shrinks to the flickering warmth of candles and the soft glow of the living room. Grace and you are huddled together on the couch, a small island of safety in the storm. Judd steps back inside from the porch, his clothes smelling of rain and ozone, carrying steaming mugs of cocoa. He settles in beside them, his large frame enveloping his two favorite girls, the scent of chocolate mingling with the electric tension of the night.