Page 24 of Jagged Burn
For now, we’re living in a rented beach house, it’s smaller and creakier, but it doesn’t matter.I wake up tangled in Stefan’s arms every morning, his scarred cheek pressed against my shoulder, and I fall asleep to the sound of him breathing steadily beside me.That’s all the home I’ll ever need.
Matt’s stopped pretending he hates seeing us together.In fact, he grins like an idiot every time Stefan and I so much as brush hands in front of him.He’s happier than I’ve seen him in years, maybe because he knows I’m finally safe, finally loved the way I deserve.
The town still whispers sometimes—about Sam, about the fire, about Stefan dragging me out like some hero in a movie.Stefan hates the attention, but I see the way kids at the station look up to him with awe, and the way older folks clap him on the back.My jagged man, finally seen for the hero he is, scars and all.
Tonight, we’re at a cookout on the beach.Bonfire blazing, laughter carrying across the waves, music from someone’s speaker floating in the air.Stefan’s hand is warm in mine, his thumb stroking lazy circles on my skin.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he murmurs, leaning down so only I hear.
I smile, tipping my head against his arm.“Just thinking how far we’ve come.Three months ago, I thought I’d never feel safe again.Now I feel ...whole.”
He presses a kiss to my temple.“You were always whole, Anna.You just needed someone to remind you.”
My throat tightens.He doesn’t say things like that often, but when he does, it hits deep.
Matt wanders over with a beer in each hand, smirking.“You two done making goo-goo eyes?Some of us are trying to eat over here.”
“Jealous?”I shoot back.
He snorts.“Not even a little.Just don’t start making out in front of the burgers, okay?”
Stefan chuckles low in his chest, and I elbow Matt.He wanders off, laughing, and I swear I catch him sneaking a look at one of the paramedics.Interesting.
The night winds down, people drifting away until it’s just Stefan and me, sitting in the sand behind our little rented bungalow with the fire crackling low.He pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms tight around me.
“You ever think about the future?”he asks softly.
“Every day.”
“What do you see?”
I tilt my head, pretending to think.“Hmm.A little house by the ocean.You swearing at frying pans every morning.Me laughing at you.Maybe a dog.Maybe kids.”
His body goes still under me, and for a second, I wonder if I pushed too far.But then he exhales slowly, and when he speaks, his voice is rough.“I want that too.All of it.With you.”
My chest aches, full to bursting.“Then it’s settled.”
He chuckles, kissing the side of my neck.“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is.”I turn in his arms, straddling his lap, cupping his face.The firelight dances across his scars, painting him in gold and shadow.“I love you, Stefan Grey.That’s the only part that matters.”
His eyes soften, that storm finally quiet.“I love you too, Anna Alexander.More than I ever thought I could love anything.”
“Also, I’m already pregnant.”
Silence envelops us before he turns me to straddle him.“Really?”
“Yeah, I found out this morning,” I say with a shrug.I’m trying not to make a big deal out of it, but I’m terrified of how he’ll react.
But I didn’t need to be because his smile is blindingly beautiful.“I love you.”
He kisses me, slow and sure, with the ocean whispering behind us and the fire warming our skin.For the first time, there’s no fear in him, no holding back.Just us—raw, scarred, and alive.
Our future isn’t perfect.It’s jagged, messy, and unpredictable.But it’s ours.And it burns brighter than any fire ever could.
The End