Page 26 of Courageous Hearts

Bo nods, never taking their eyes off me. “Could I, uh… Could I have a hug?”

I give a start before nodding. Bo steps into me, and I wrap my arms around their more slender body.

“Tighter,” they all but whisper.

Pulse kicking up, I comply, dragging Bo against me as tight as I dare, my arms around their back, theirs around mine. The heat of them, the sturdiness, it feels nice. It feels…

Bo shifts, their thigh brushing against my own, our hips flush. My cock gives a hearty twitch, and I step back abruptly, breath getting lost somewhere in my throat. Bo looks at me in confusion, but I shoot them what I hope is a reassuring smile as I stick my hands in my pockets.

“Have a good night, Bo,” I say hoarsely, making a quick turn. To Bridget, I ask, “Ready?”

She nods, and a step away, Bo’s response, “Night, Jamie,” hits my ears.

I ball my hands into fists inside my pockets, knowing, after tonight, there’s no way Bo will be leaving my head anytime soon.

Chapter 8

Bo

“Happy birthday, darlin’.”

I smile, rubbing my hands over my eyes as my aunt Sara’s heavily accented voice washes over me. I slept in late after the night I had, and a quick look at my phone tells me it’s already lunchtime.

“Thanks, Sara,” I say, stretching my limbs.

“Any plans for the day?”

“Pretty sure I’ll be takin’ it easy after last night,” I note, although I don’t feel too bad. Not remotely hungover. Just hungry.

Sara chuckles. “Hopefully you didn’t have too much fun,” she teases.

“Nah, I was a good kid.”

“Hardly a kid anymore,” Sara says. “I sent a li’l somethin’, so keep an eye out, all right?”

“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell her, sitting upright as I slowly build myself up to get out of bed.

“Hun, let me spoil you a little. I hardly got to do enough of it when you were younger.”

My father didn’t want Aunt Sara around me and Diesel. She was too progressive, and he was so hateful, all he wanted was to drown everyone that he could in it. He succeeded in drowning me for most of my childhood.

“Well, in that case, I won’t complain,” I say with a chuckle. “Hey, I was thinkin’…”

“Yeah?” Sara asks when I drift off, busy rolling over the decision I’d mostly made my mind up about last night.

“I think I’d like to visit soon. Maybe next month.”

“Yeah?” Sara says again, the excitement evident in her tone. “I’d love that. Need help with the plane ticket?”

“No,” I say quickly. It’ll be a splurge, but I can afford it.

“Well, y’know you’ve always got a place here, kiddo. Doors are open.”

“I know, Sara,” I say softly, throat catching. “And that means the world.”

Sara hums. “Let me know your plans once you’ve got ’em figured out.”

“Will do,” I tell her. “Love you.”

---