Page 44 of Courageous Hearts

“How’re you feeling after last night?” I ask, nuzzling against the back of their head. Their hair is so soft, and it smells faintly floral.

Bo stills for a moment before shifting. I move my weight off of them, giving them room to maneuver. But once they resettle on their side facing me, I wrap my arm back around their waist, hand splayed over the small of their back.

“You really are a communicative person, huh?” Bo says, eyes still half-closed.

“I am. Does that bother you?” I ask curiously.

“No,” they say, shaking their head. “Just not used to it. The honesty. The…transparency, I guess. I like it. It makes me feel like… Like I don’t have to worry about guessin’ what you’re thinkin’.”

“I’ll try to always be clear about what’s on my mind,” I say, kissing their forehead.

Bo hums. “Who taught you such good habits?” they ask, tone light but still sleep-hoarse.

“My parents,” I admit.

“Yeah?” Bo says, curling further into me.

I nod. “They were big on talking. To each other. To me and Grant. I think it’s part of what made them so happy—why their marriage lasted. They never let things fester.”

Bo leans back, frowning a little. “You said ‘lasted.’” There’s question in their tone.

“My dad passed away over a decade ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Jamie,” Bo says quietly.

“Thanks, but it wasn’t exactly a shock. He was seventy-four.”

Bo’s quiet, a little furrow twitching between their brows, like they’re doing the math, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Yes, he had kids late in life. He was twenty-five years older than my mom,” I explain.

“Oh, wow. That’s quite a gap.”

“It was,” I agree. “But it was a love match.”

“I guess our seven-year difference isn’t so big,” Bo says with a little smile.

I rub their back. “No, I don’t think so.”

Bo rests their forehead against my chest, and their hair tickles my chin. I love it, this closeness. I could stay here all day, tucked away from the rest of the world, enjoying Bo all to myself.

“I’m good,” they finally say, answering my earlier question. “Happy,” they add at a nearly inaudible mumble.

“Yeah?”

They nod, snuggling closer and making my chest hum in satisfaction. And then something rather firm pokes my hip.

“And horny?” I ask with a little grin, feeling somewhat smug about that fact. Bo hides their face, but I shake my head, grabbing their chin lightly. “Nope. Don’t hide from me. It’s incredibly sexy knowing I turn you on.”

Bo bites their lip, cheeks red. “Would you…”

“Would I what?” I prompt, slipping my hand down to Bo’s ass and tugging them more firmly against my body. Their hard-on brushes my own, and Bo moans quietly.

“Would you rut against me?”

“Is that exactly what it sounds like?” I ask.

Bo huffs a little laugh, dropping their face against my chest again. They flick a quick lick against my pec before leaning back. “Yeah. It’s basically grindin’ together.”

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