Blowing Smoke by Ashton Cade

Sometimes even the strongest men need saving.

Hunter: As an Alaskan smokejumper, I’m used to palling around with tough guys. My best friend Jared just became Chief of Police here in Gateway, and the whole town relies on him to keep them safe. I’ve realized I want to serve and protect him in an entirely different way. When he’s forced to vacate his sick apartment building and takes the apartment on my property, we get close. When he’s out taking care of Gateway’s people in a snowstorm and his patrol car gets snowed under and he is struck with pneumonia, we get closer. I’m the one to come to his rescue.

Sure, he’s the one who is unconscious, but Jared has become my fever-dream.
Can reality compare to the fantasy I have of us together, forever?