Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The afternoon sun hung high in the sky as Evelyn and Luca strolled along the quiet beach, their footprints trailing behind them in the golden sand. The wind played with Evelyn's loose waves, making her laugh as she tried to tuck them behind her ears.

Luca watched her, memorizing every moment. The way her eyes crinkled when she smiled, the way she let out a breathless giggle when the waves kissed her feet—he had never seen her this free.

They had spent so long fighting for a future, but now that they had it, he wondered if she truly believed it would last.

"You're staring," Evelyn teased, glancing up at him.

Evelyn rolled her eyes but reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. "I still can't believe we made it out," she admitted.

He squeezed her hand. "We didn't just make it out. We won."

She nodded, but her expression turned serious. "But what if it doesn't last? What if the past catches up to us?"

Luca stopped walking and turned to her. The way her voice trembled, the way she bit her lip—it told him she was afraid.

He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We've fought too hard to lose this now," he said firmly. "I'm not going anywhere. And neither are you."

Evelyn searched his face, as if looking for reassurance.

Then, she let out a soft breath. "Okay."

Luca pulled her closer, pressing his forehead against hers. "You and me, remember? No matter what."

She smiled then, a real, genuine smile. "No matter what."

And in that moment, he knew—there was nothing in this world worth more than her.

A Love Worth Keeping