Page 93 of Courageous Hearts

Bo

“How’re you doing, babycakes?” Dee asks, her voice piping over speakerphone from atop the coffee table at Sara’s. “Give it to me straight.”

I huff a little laugh, exchanging a look with Jameson, who’s sitting on the couch beside me. “I’m good,” I answer, meaning it.

“Really?” Dee asks, sounding equal parts skeptical and relieved. I don’t blame her, considering everything that’s happened.

Yes, I put things to rest with my brother, and that was harder than I had anticipated. But I think of Mr. Moore’s words about choices. Diesel is an adult now, but he’s still acting like a bully, much like our dad. He hasn’t made better choices, and that’s on him.

For me, the right choice is distancing myself from that, even though it hurts.

But confrontation with my brother aside, being back here in Plum Valley has felt good. After all my attempts to drive a wedge between me and my Southern roots, I’m glad I made this trip when I did.

And I’m glad Jameson made his.

Linking my fingers with my boyfriend’s, I tell Dee, “Comin’ here was worth it.”

“Good,” Dee says on a breath. “You’ll have to fill me in when you get back. I’ve missed your gorgeous ass.”

I chuckle. “Missed you, too. See ya soon.”

“Bye, love,” Dee says before disconnecting the call.

I let out a sigh, curling into Jameson. His arm wraps around me immediately, fingers tickling my bare skin, and I shiver, tucking my face against his neck. He smells nice, like sandalwood, sun, and a fresh breeze. I give him a little lick, and he rumbles with a pained sort of laughter.

“Blue,” he groans, not quite an admonishment.

“I know, but all my bruises are gone,” I complain, desperate to rectify that.

Jameson groans again, arm tightening around me.

“There you two are,” Sara says.

I pull my face out of Jameson’s neck, embarrassed at being caught half atop my boyfriend, but Sara only smiles.

“I’m gonna grab ingredients for beef tacos for supper,” she says. “Sound all right?”

“Yeah, Sara. That sounds great,” I tell her, cheeks hot.

“All righty, then. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.” She gives us a little finger wave before heading off through the kitchen, and I listen to her truck door close and the engine start. Once I can no longer hear her tires crunching over gravel, I inhale and twist toward Jameson.

“Jamie.”

“Hm?” he responds.

“Twenty minutes.”

He tilts his head. “What?”

I stand up, tugging him to his feet. “We’ve got twenty minutes,” I repeat slowly, backing up toward the hall. “The house is empty.”

Jameson’s eyes widen in understanding, and he swallows roughly, gaze tracking me hungrily. “We’re leaving tomorrow,” he reasons, although he follows me easily down the hall.

“I don’t care,” I shoot back, shutting the bedroom door as soon as we’ve cleared the threshold. “I need you now.”

Jameson doesn’t put up an ounce of fight as I shove him hastily toward the bed. When his legs hit it, he falls backwards gracefully. He looks like an offering atop that mattress, and my cock plumps rapidly.

“How do you want to make the most of our nineteen minutes?” he asks, curling his torso and tugging off his shirt.

---