The wind bites. The locker is empty. The hoodie’s still on the bed.
Logan's gone quiet. Bryce won’t leave. Jake can’t breathe.
After everything that happened in the hotel, Jake froze. And Logan walked away.
Now the team’s just trying to hold it together. The rhythm is off. Coach is watching. And Bryce… is finally done staying silent.
This chapter doesn’t explode — it unravels.
In this Chapter:
Logan clears out his locker
Jake finally cracks — slowly, painfully, alone
Bryce says the thing no one else will: “He already made his choice. He fought for you.”
An unsent apology. A folded hoodie.
And a promise — this silence won't last forever
📬 Chapters drop in real time. Expect slow burn, fast hands, and emotional fallout.
📝 Author Note:
Yeah. I know it’s slower. Heavier.
But this chapter needed space.
Sometimes the quiet hurts more than the heat.
More is coming. The story will find light again. But for now… they’re all sitting in it.
Thanks for staying with them.
– Riley
Read more from Riley Thorne
Backdraft Burn is a slow-burn queer firehouse drama told in tension, smoke, and the spaces between words. Set in a small Kansas town, it follows Ash Mercer, a sharp-eyed rookie with something to prove, and Gage, the seasoned firefighter who’s been running from his own past — and feelings — for years.
Every shift brings heat. Every silence, a choice. And in a place where reputation matters more than truth, desire has to stay hidden... until it doesn't.
This is a story for readers who crave emotional slow burn, charged glances across the bay, and the kind of intimacy that sneaks up like a flame you thought you’d put out.
No need to pay — just become a free member to read every chapter.
patreon.com/TheThorneDispatch
About the author:
Riley Thorne writes emotionally intelligent queer erotica focused on intimacy, character growth, and the power of restraint. His stories blend heat with heart — built for readers who want more than just a quick release.
💌 Want more? Follow Riley or reach out anytime: [email protected]