Page 187 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“Hey…” his voice softens. “Did I—”

“No,” I whisper quickly, shaking my head.

My hand cups his cheek, grounding him.

Grounding me.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

I smile through the emotion.

“It’s… you.”

His brow furrows.

I let out a shaky breath.

“I didn’t think I’d ever feel something like this again,” I admit.

“Safe… and terrified… all at the same time.”

His eyes soften.

And that’s when I see it.

Not the fighter.

Not the man everyone fears.

Just him.

And he leans down, pressing a kiss to the corner of my eye—

catching the tear before it can fall.

“I’ve got you,” he murmurs.

Not a promise.

Not forever.

But right now.

And right now is enough.

We move together again, slower this time.

More certain.

No walls.

No holding back.

Just us.

And when we finally come to stillness, he doesn’t pull away.

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