Deputy Mark Forrest and Nurse Francis Archer can’t deny the chemistry that arises between them. A chance meeting awakens the idea of something greater than either had ever imagined.<br><br>Mark craves being able to let go, and Francis loves to take him out of his head. But Mark’s past bears a truckload of personal demons that have kept him in the closet and made him lash out at the LGBTQ community in the town he’s come to regard as home.<br><br>Despite finding love and a new purpose in Acker, Francis’s new job might end up being temporary, and he doesn't want to lose the life he's settled into. Can the two of them build a future together despite a bitter past, and diverging paths?

Thirteen

Mark watched Francis leave and felt conflicted. He waited until the sound of Francis’s car faded, before moving from the doorway where he’d been standing. It had felt as if he couldn’t move, but needed to, but didn’t have the courage to do so.


Endless thoughts swirled through his mind. Why had he safeworded? What was so bad about a kiss? Would Francis come back? If he did, would he want to do the same thing again? Would Mark want to? What was wrong with him, melting into a puddle like that at a bit of attention? Did this mean he was gay? Shit, he was a fag, wasn’t he? His parents would be so fucking—no, no, he couldn’t go there.


Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t know he was gay. It was just… thinking it fleetingly was different than admitting to it. Making it part of his identity was a horrifying idea.


Chapter 24