Through evening’s fall, they viewed from veranda change of sky over vast of wild; blue of day taking into flame; fire’s settle into stars, ember light through fire’s die. He held her still, in wrap of his arms, body taken into his; swell of his breath in press to her back; her body’s match and press into his wrap. Whisper of the mountain winds settled into a silence, balance of the earth, no more thermals in rise and fall over mountain’s side.
Air cooled. They dressed again; difference of his hold through fabric’s guard—both wanting cover freed and rid again.
Unspoken, but knowing, they rose together returning into home; stars of the night through windows’ wide, kindle of fire in pueblo hearth, crackle and snap of juniper and spruce, curl of the bark in bright of flame before low-temper over grain.
Beside the hearth, near to heat, each freeing in bare again.
Return into love—slow gentle way, smooth as flame on roll over form of grain; intimate in the firelight, gaze-match of eye to eye.
Roll of their bodies, Anna brought to high, roll-smooth of her body’s straddle; high reach of his hands, her back and body straightened in cradle and the lift; then further raise of hands, forward curl of her body’s fall as he held to her face, kissing her deep as they stayed in the slow, full roll of hips and rest; further fall of her body—chest to chest—deep keep of kiss as fire danced and rolled in last on the grain.