Good Days •Rafe Cameron•

Slowburn

Rafe's POV

Phoebe Carrera-Devereux. Her name alone sent a shiver down my spine. A mix of longing and regret. I stood outside her aunt and uncle's house, the place she called home when she wasn't off on one of her adventures.
There had been news that the Pogue's were back in town. I immediately made my way to the Carrera Residence. I had to see her. Even though I was upset with her.
But I could've blame her for leaving me. I had given her every reason to run away. But now she was back, and I needed to make things right.
The neighborhood was quiet, the kind of stillness that made you hyper-aware of every sound. I could hear the distant hum of the ocean, the rustling of the leaves in the breeze, and my own heart beat pounding in my chest. I took a deep breath and walked up to the front door, my hand trembling as I knocked.
There was a moment of silence before I heard her footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and there she was, standing in the sunlight of the hallway.
Her brown skin was glowing softly in the light. Her big, curly hair framed her face, cascading down in wild, beautiful spirals. Her eyes, though wearing from travel, still held a gentle sparkle. She seemed almost delicate, but there was an undeniable strength in her presence. Despite her exhaustion, she looked stunning, a natural beauty that shone through her tiredness.
Her eyes widen in surprise when she saw me, and I could see a flicker of something else-fear, maybe, or anger. I couldn't blame her for that either.
    "Rafe," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to see you." I replied, my voice rough with emotion. "I know I've messed up, Phoebe. I know I've caused you pain and destruction. But I can't go on like this. I need to make things right."
She crosses her arms, a defensive gesture that made my heart ache. "And how do you plan to do that?" She sassed.
I took a step closer, my eyes never leaving hers. "By apologizing, for starters. I'm sorry, Be. "I'm sorry for everything. I know I've been a monster, but I want to change. I want to be the man you deserve."
She looked away, her gaze fixed on some point in the distance. "Words are easy, Rafe. Actions are what matter."
"I know." I said, taking another step closer. "And I'm ready to prove it to you. I want to be with you, Phoebe. I want to be marry you, to make you mine. I want to spend the rest of my life making up for all the hurt I've caused you."
       Her eyes snapped back to mine, a mixture of shock and disbelief in her expression. "You want to marry me?"
     "Yes," I said, my voice firm. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I love you, Phoebe. I've loved you for as long as I can remember. And I'll do whatever it takes to make you see that."
      She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "Love? You think this is love, Rafe? You've done nothing but bring chaos into my life. How can you expect me to believe that you love me?"
       I  reached out, gently taking her hand in mine. "Because it's the truth. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm willing to spend the rest of my life making up for them. I want to be the man you can rely on, the man who makes you happy. Please, Phoebe. Give me a chance to prove it to you."
     She looked down at our joined hands, her expression softening slightly. "I don't know, Rafe. I don't know if I can trust you."
       "Then let me earn your trust," I said, my voice pleading. "Let me show you that I can be the man you deserve. I'll do whatever it takes, Phoebe. Just give me a chance."
       She was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deceit. Finally, she sighed and nodded. "Alright, Rafe. I'll give you a chance. But know this—I won't tolerate any more lies or betrayals. If you hurt me again, we're done. Do you understand?"
     "I understand," I said, relief flooding through me. "I promise, Phoebe. I won't let you down."
      "I don't like fighting." She breathed. Her voice was like a hum. A melody of love.
    "It drains me, makes me feel like I'm losing a part of myself every time. I see the toll it takes on you, on us, and it breaks my heart."
She paused, looking down at her hands, trying to find the right words. "But at the same time, fighting is the only way I know I'm fighting for something worth it. It's like, if I'm not struggling, if I'm not pushing back against the world, then what am I even doing? It's the only way I know how to show that I care, that I won't give up on what matters to me."
Phoebe looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I don't want to keep fighting with you, Rafe. But I also don't want to stop fighting for us. It's a paradox, I know, but it's where I'm at. I just hope you can understand that, and maybe, we can find a way to fight together instead of against each other."
She took a step closer to me, reaching out to touch my arm. "I believe in us, Rafe. I believe we can get through this, no matter how hard it gets. But we have to be in this together, fighting for the same thing. Can we do that?"
I stood there, watching Phoebe with a mix of admiration and guilt. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts before speaking.
     "Phoebe," I started, my voice low and sincere, "I get it. I really do. I know how much you hate fighting, how it drains you. And I've seen what it's done to us. But I need you to know something important."
     I stepped closer, my eyes locking onto hers. "I understand why you fight. It's because you care so much, because you're not willing to let go of what matters to you. And I respect that. More than you know."
     I took her hand gently, squeezing it as if to reassure her. "I've been so caught up in chasing the gold, in trying to prove something to myself and everyone else. But I've realized that none of that means anything if it costs me you. You're what matters, Phoebe. Not the gold, not the power. You."
     I paused, searching for the right words. "I promise you, I'll do everything I can to fight for you instead of the gold. I'll put us first. I'll fight for our future, for the life we want together. Because I don't want to lose you. You're worth more than any treasure I could ever find."
     I looked at her with a mix of hope and determination. "Can we start over? Can we fight for each other, for us? I know it won't be easy, but I believe we can do it. Together."
     She nodded again, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
      As I pulled her into my arms, I felt a sense of hope that I hadn't felt in a long time. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to prove to Phoebe that I could be the man she deserved. And one day, I would make her mine forever.
Phoebe is fire. Our love is this slow burn. It hurts sometimes, but, it feels so good. It's like holding my hand over a flame. I know I should pull away, but I just can't. Every touch, every glance, it ignites something deep inside me.
It's not this crazy blaze, but more like a steady heat that wraps around me. Yeah, it hurts, but it's a pain I crave. She makes me feel alive. I know there are challenges ahead, but every moment of that burn is worth it. She's my fire, my slow burn, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.
I stood there, the cool ocean breeze ruffling my hair as I gazed at Phoebe. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over everything. We had been through so much together, and now, in this moment, everything seemed to come to a head. Our eyes locked, and the world around them faded away.
     Phoebe looked up at Rafe. There was something in her eyes, a depth of emotion I had never seen before. It was as if I was seeing her for the first time, really seeing her. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a mix of anticipation and longing.
     I took a step closer, my hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek. My touch was soft, almost hesitant, I was afraid she might disappear if I moved too quickly. Phoebe leaned into my hand, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment.
        "Phoebe," I whispered, my voice low and filled with emotion. "I need to kiss you.
      Phoebe opened her eyes, meeting my gaze once more. I could see the sincerity in her eyes, the intensity of her feelings. She felt her own emotions rising to the surface, a tidal wave of love and longing that threatened to overwhelm her.
      "Rafe," she breathed, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Me too."
     My thumb brushed over her cheek, my touch sending a jolt of electricity through her. I leaned in slowly, my breath mingling with hers. The world seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore.
     Our lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, a gentle exploration of each other's feelings. It was sweet and tender, a promise of things to come. My heart swell with emotion, my entire being focused on the sensation of Phoebe's lips against mine.
    As the kiss deepened, it became more intense, a slow burn that ignited a fire within us both. My hand moved to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as I poured all of my feelings into the kiss. Phoebe responded in kind, her hands finding their way to my chest, feeling the steady beat of my heart beneath her fingertips.
    Time seemed to stand still as we lost ourselves in each other. The kiss was a dance, a delicate balance of passion and tenderness. It was as if we were discovering each other for the first time, every touch, every caress, a revelation.
      When we finally pulled away, both of us were breathless, my foreheads resting against hers. A small smile playing at the corners of my lips.
    "That was..." Phoebe began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words.
      "Amazing,"I finished for her, his smile widening. "Absolutely amazing."
    I nodded, my own smile matching hers. I felt a sense of peace, of rightness, that I had never felt before. In that moment, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. Our love was strong, a slow-burning flame that would never be extinguished.
     As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in twilight. It was the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, one filled with love, hope, and endless possibilities.