Page 39 of Courageous Hearts

And yet, in the very back recesses of my mind, hidden away behind my forceful want, is the reminder of what it is we came here to do. Not this. Not before we talk.

With a frustrated groan, I try to ease back and slow down our kiss. But Bo isn’t having it. As soon as I put even a modicum of space between us, Bo makes a sound of desperation and wraps their legs around me tight. Lust hits me square in the gut, nearly derailing my objective as my cock rubs neatly along the length of their own hardness.

Oh God.

“Bo,” I rasp out between hurried, sloppy kisses. “Inviting you over to talk”—more kisses—“wasn’t a euphemism.”

Bo hums what sounds like an agreement, but they make no move to unwrap their legs, and I realize I’m going to have to be the strong one here. The voice of reason. No matter how much I want to continue this right here, right fucking now, we really do need to have a conversation first. I need it.

Bo’s hands scramble against my back as I lift myself up, but they finally seem to catch onto the fact that I’m not relenting. With a groan, they fall lax against the couch cushions, blue eyes blinking open. We never turned on a light, and their features are obscured in the dark. But the moisture on their lips glistens in the waning light from the moon and the streetlights outside.

Dragging my gaze upward and ignoring the weight of the erection between my legs, I focus on Bo’s bright, hooded gaze.

“What do you want out of this?” I ask gently. “What are you looking for?”

Their mouth opens, brows furrowed as they stare up at me. “D’you always have a serious conversation before sleepin’ with someone?”

“As a matter of fact, yes, I do.”

Bo’s eyes widen at that.

“Look,” I say, adjusting myself slightly to be more comfortable. Bo hasn’t loosened their death grip around my hips, but I don’t mind. “I like to set an expectation early on so that no one gets hurt. I’ve dated in the past, but if that’s not what I’m looking for or if that’s not what my partner is looking for, it’s good to know that ahead of time. Circumstances can change, of course, but I don’t want any miscommunication at the start. I think it’s good to know if this is fooling around or something more.”

Bo shakes their head a little, looking dazed. “Okay, um. You said last night that you wanted to start somethin’. Does that mean you wanna date me?”

“Yes,” I reply without hesitation. I very much want that with Bo. I can already tell a one-and-done wouldn’t be enough. They intrigue me, beyond the physical. I want to know so much more. I want to know everything. “Would you want to date me?”

“Yeah. I’d really like that,” Bo says somewhat sheepishly.

I grin. “Yeah?”

They nod. But when they try to tug me back down, I shake my head.

Bo groans. “What now?”

I huff a laugh. Bo’s eagerness is admittedly a massive turn-on, but there are a few things we need to discuss first.

“I’ve only been with women,” I remind Bo. Their lips set into a straight line, but they nod, giving me encouragement to go on. “I don’t have a full understanding of what being nonbinary means to you.” I make sure my words are soft. Unhurried. “I know this is new, and there’s going to be a lot to learn between us. But I don’t want to say or do something insensitive because I didn’t take the time to ask a few questions.”

Bo blinks before closing their eyes and breathing deeply. When they open them again, their expression is soft. “This is a serious conversation, huh?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, knowing I’ve ruined the mood.

But Bo shakes their head, lifting one hand and running their fingers over the line of my jaw and then up to my cheek. They stay there for a moment, fingertips dancing over my skin. “Don’t be sorry. I’m lucky you’re so thoughtful, Mr. Wright.”

Bo’s words are playful, but they hit me deep.

Could I be that for Bo? Their Mr. Right?

Bo’s lips twist into a smile, and then they sigh a little, their hand dropping back to the couch cushion. “Could we at least take this upstairs? Your bed is hella comfortable.”

“You won’t jump me again?” I tease. Not that I’m truly complaining. Not at all.

Those lips twitch. “Not yet.”

“All right, then,” I say, standing up as Bo’s legs fall away from me. I hold out a hand, and Bo looks up at me, their eyes like rolling waves in the shimmering glow from the window. “C’mon, Blue. Let’s go talk.”

Chapter 12

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