Logan returns to the Airbnb to check out — and makes a quiet decision not to disappear again. From there, he steps back onto the field, first with Bryce and Jake, then with the whole team. His locker is empty, but it’s not lost. A photo from Media Day helps reclaim the space he walked away from. Coach doesn’t offer speeches, just assignments. Bryce doesn’t ask questions, just hands over what Logan needs. And Jake — steady, close — walks beside him every step. By the time the locker room clears, all that’s left is water, warmth, and the beginning of something that feels like trust again.
In this Chapter:
Bryce with a La Croix and a mission
A quiet choice to stop disappearing
Locker photos, taped back in place
Coach’s nod and a subtle challenge
Post-practice steam, shared silence, and something safe
📬 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]