SURGE

by Piper Frost

  I laugh and lean against him, sighing. "They love coming over. I wish I could be here more, but work's kicking my ass lately with the end of the year. We lost a server at the diner last week too, so I'm burning on both ends at least until summer vacation." I hate it. I want to spend more time with him, but paying the bills and keeping food on the table trumps fun time, as much as I hate it.

  "Yeah." He grabs my hips and shifts me so I'm straddling his lap, then his eyes dart toward the back door. He knows I'm hesitant to show this much physical interaction around the kids, but I'm not about to stop him right now. Not when I'm finally this close to him. "You're an important woman." He kisses me softly. "More responsibility than anyone I know, but you handle it all." His hands slowly slide down my sides and to my ass, tugging me closer to him.

  "Just the way of life," I whisper, bringing my hands to trace his jawline. "You haven't shaved in a few days. I like it."

  "You enjoying my mountain man look?" He grins and kisses me again, whispering, "Stay the night, Kinlee. Not to brag, but the twins love me. Me and Will have talked 'bout me and you dating and he's fine with it. No reason you and I shouldn't move on to something more official."

  I stare into those beautiful eyes and want nothing more than to say yes. "I don't know, Bo." I shake my head, dropping my hands to rest on his abs. His very defined abs that I'd love to trace without this damn shirt on.

  "You don't know?" He quietly chuckles and lifts my head so I look at him. There's confusion on his face like he didn't expect that. "You don't know? I know. I fingered you in my bathroom. I touch myself to thoughts of you. I know, Kinlee. What don't you know?"

  I squeeze my eyes closed. I want to tell him how I feel about him, but I have too many responsibilities in life to fall in love with someone. Especially a man that could end up dying from his inability to stay away from danger. Wrapping my heart and life around a man that doesn't care for his own safety isn't something I'm sure I'm ready for.

  But I think I'm too late for that.

  "Bo," I whisper, shaking my head. "We're completely different. And I love it, but I hate it. Because I don't know from one day to another if you're gonna end up dead from your need to do crazy, high adrenaline stunts. You bought the bull that broke your back and ended your career. You hunt rattlesnakes, just for shits and giggles. You need speed and crazy...and I need to know the man I..." I huff and curse, not wanting to say the words out loud. "I need to know you're not going to die on me. You scare the shit out of me. I don't want to stop what we have. I don't want anyone else. I just...I need slow. And patience. And trust. And maybe for you to not try killin' yourself every other day," I mumble, shaking my head.

  He chuckles. "Darlin', I'm a patient man. I can go as slow as you want, but there ain't a reason we can't call this like it is. I ain't a whore, Kinlee. I ain't seein' other girls. I expect you not to be seein' other guys. That means we're seein' each other. That means I'm your boyfriend." He shrugs. "Simple as that."

  "I'm a busy woman, Bo. I don't want the label if you're going to start getting angry that I'm too busy. I have to keep working to keep food on the table. To keep the bills paid. Why do you think I haven't dated in years? Once that label is there, guys think I need to drop everything and give them all my attention, but I can't."

  I want to be able to scream that I want him, and only him. I want to tell him that yes, I will absolutely be his girlfriend. I want all of that and more…but my life handed me a card I can't just drop. I'm not twenty-one with barely any responsibilities anymore. I don't want him regretting taking me and all my baggage in.

  "Yeah, well, I'm not those guys. I've spent alone time with you just a handful of days this month, and most of those days we didn't even have long enough together to kiss. I'm patient. I'm independent. I don't need a woman at my side all day every day to know she's in my heart."

  I grin, biting my lip. His heart? "I weaseled my way in there already?"

  He exhales with a chuckle. "Almost ten years ago." He looks away and I can feel my own heart hammering in my chest.

  I bring my hand to his cheek and move his gaze to mine so I can search his eyes for any trace of humor, but he's not joking. "So what your sister said?"

  "Hell." He chuckles. "I didn't think I'd ever be admitting this to you, but goddamn, Kinlee, you never saw me like that. I tried, damn hard too, but." He shakes his head and looks away again with a disappointed smirk on his face.

  "Those ten seconds against Miller's truck were you trying damn hard?" I can't help but make fun of him and I start to giggle when the look on his face changes.

  His lips push against mine and soon I'm swept up into forgetting all my worries about us. All my worries about him and his safety, for the moment, are gone. His lips on mine feel like heaven. His tongue twisting with mine washes away all the worries of my day. His hands snake up the back of my shirt and his warm palms press against me, pulling me closer and making me grind against him. He lets out a low growl and his lips fall to my neck. I push against him, feeling his arousal growing and not worrying one bit about the people inside that house right now.

  Right now I need it to be just us.

  He must read my mind, because he grips my hips and stands abruptly, making me giggle too loud. My legs wrap around his waist as I laugh and he carries me down the steps.

  "I've got longer than ten seconds in me now," he promises and I lock my legs around his waist, laughing as he walks us away from the house. "I was losing my virginity to the girl I'd loved since sixth grade." He stops walking when we get to the field and he sits, rolling me to my back and hovers over me. "I can go for twenty seconds now." His fingers pop the button on my jeans and I wiggle my hips under him, needing his hands on me. "I would have just taken you right to my bedroom but you won't commit to stayin' and your siblings will wonder why you're leavin' my room in the middle of the night." He pushes my pants and thong down, sliding his hand over me and groaning. "You're my girl, ain't ya?" He looks me in the eyes and doesn't move until I answer.

  "I'm your girl, Bo," I whisper, terrified by these feelings I'm having for him.

  He grins and kisses me, unbuttoning his jeans. I slide a leg out of my jeans, but don't bother with the other, and he only pushes his jeans down past his ass, but right now, I couldn't care about the romance. I want him inside of me and I need it now. I lift my leg to wrap around his hip and arch my back, pushing up to him. A whimper escapes my lips as I grind against him. He kisses me hard when he sinks inside of me, slow at first. God, this feels too right. I exhale and grip his shoulders tight, kissing him back.

  "This weekend you're in my bed, all night and well into the morning. But right now." He plunges inside of me again and I gasp with a yelp. "I couldn't wait to feel you anymore." His hips start moving faster and it lights parts of my body on fire that have been numb for years.

  Bo's body against mine is better than anything I've ever had. Ever. It's strong, loving, and giving while taking exactly what he wants. It's hot as hell, and every time he pushes into me he hits me deeper, in spots I never even knew could feel so good. He's damn perfect. His lips press to mine as his hips dip deep, biting onto my lip as he retreats then pushes in again. His hand comes to my hip and he holds on tight as he speeds up. I've never orgasmed without someone or something playing with my clit, so when my orgasm starts to build just from his dick hitting me perfectly, I gasp and grip his forearms, begging him not to stop.

  "Shit, Bo," I moan, meeting his thrusts with my hips. "My god, don't stop," I gasp.

  I feel myself tighten around him and he huffs, setting the perfect rhythm to send me into the best orgasm I've ever had. When I start to come, his grasp on my hip tightens and he pushes harder and deeper. Releasing a frustrated groan, he's trying to hold back his orgasm while I ride out mine.

  "I'm gonna come," he warns and I nod, holding him against me so he doesn't pull out. "Shit, I love you, Kinlee," he moans and thrusts his hips once more, deep inside me and drops his forehead to my
shoulder.

  "I love you too, Bo," I whisper through the emotions rolling around inside of me.

  I do. I fucking love this man. I don't know when it happened or how it happened. Maybe it was always there and I just didn't know what to call it. Having boyfriends was never on my list of something I needed in life, but Bo has been there for me through almost everything in my youth, and he's here now.

  And I love him.

  I do. I fucking love this man.

  Ever since that night, Bo and I have been closer than ever. I'm still busy, he's still workin' the ranch and spending time with the twins, but we're spending more and more of our free time together. He's been having us over for dinner a few times a week and every weekend, after I get off my shift at the diner, he's been there waiting for me. I still worry about him daily, but it's something I have to learn to deal with. I know when he's working on the ranch he's not going to get in too much trouble. There's no way Brandt or Brandt’s dad would allow it. It's when he's off and I'm not there with him that I worry, and I worry a lot.

  The other day he was out with a few old high school buddies, apparently four-wheelin' on his land after the rain, and all I could do was worry he was going to end up hurting his back even more. He claims the four-wheeler doesn't hurt, but I've noticed the day after he goes he's always a little slower. Never one to complain, but it shows.

  My phone rings from its charger and I groan. There goes my attempt at a nap today.

  "Hey," I say, seeing it's Jo. My stress is amped right now because I know Bo and the kids are over there and lord knows what they're doing.

  "So don't panic, but... Bo was being an ass and fell off one of the four-wheelers trying to pull stunts. Hit his head pretty good and Brandt forced him to go to the hospital. He left here with a face full of blood. Good news? The kids are cleaning up horse shit for me."

  My stomach drops and panic rises. "He what? You can't tell me not to panic, Jo. He's at the hospital? What the hell is he pullin' stunts for? What hospital?" I run around the house, trying to find my sandals and keys.

  "Don't stress, Kinlee." She huffs. "He left here laughing his ass off. You know how he is. He's Bo Hart, he's always trying to pull some stupid stunt. And I only know of one hospital right outside of town, so I imagine that one? Call Brandt. Maybe they just went up to the clinic. Not like brains were falling out of his head, but he's gonna need a few stitches."

  "Oh my god," I groan, trying to take a deep breath before I completely lose it. I knew he'd end up hurting himself. I knew those four-wheelers were a bad idea. And the fact that he left there laughing makes me even more worried that the man sees nothing as real danger. "Thanks. I'll figure it out." I head out of the house and speed off toward the hospital. They don't do stitches like that at the clinic so even if those two went there, they're going to end up at the ER.

  My hands are shaking with nerves and anxiety as I pull into the parking lot and swing into a spot. I'm trying not to look like a mad-woman, but that's exactly how I feel rushing inside.

  "Bo Hart," I blurt at the lady working the front desk.

  "Let me see where they put him. They just got here." She tells me to go take a seat so I do, just to glare at the doors to the back.

  When Brandt walks through the doors, I storm over to him. "What the hell are you doing letting him do this shit?" I blurt, shoving at his chest but he doesn't budge.

  With a shake of his head, he adjusts his ball cap and lets out a sigh. "He's gonna do whatever he wants, Kinlee. No one's gonna tell Bo what he can't be doin'. He's fine. Just waiting on the doc right now. Curtain seventeen, down the hall on the right."

  I don't even bother saying anything else to him. When I approach the curtain, he's sitting on the bed, holding a rag to his head.

  "Hey, dumbass," I whisper, hating this scene.

  "Well hello to you too, darlin'." He smirks and rolls his eyes. "Why you here, Kinlee?"

  "You hurt yourself. Doin' something not too smart, by the way. Of course I'm going to be here to make sure you're not dead." I huff and plop into the chair next to him. "Mostly because you scare me, and I had to see with my own eyes that you're okay," I admit, frowning at him. "That towel’s almost soaked with blood."

  "My money's on Jo? She called? She probably should have told you I'm not hurt. I split the bridge of my nose. Not sure if you know, but they bleed like a sieve and take a while to stop. It ain't as bad as it looks. And what was I doing that wasn't too smart? I." He's waving his hand back and forth, just trying to come up with something. "Slipped."

  I raise an eyebrow at him and shake my head. "That's not what Jo told me, Bo." I stand and grab a clean towel from the tray next to him to switch them out. "What made you think pullin' tricks like that was okay? And with your back? You shouldn't even be on those damn four-wheelers."

  "Well shit, Kinlee. Why don't we just put me in a wheelchair and call it a damn day?" As he scrunches his brows it makes the bleeding heavier.

  "There's plenty you can do without putting yourself in danger, Bo. Shit," I huff, grabbing another towel. "When are they coming in to help you out with this?" I push the towel to his face because he's obviously not focused enough on it, and I catch his eye watching me. "What?"

  "Don't worry about this, Kinlee. I ain't your brother or sister. You ain't in my life to baby me. Shit." He takes the towel and shifts to move away from me. "God only knows how you woulda reacted if you were around when I broke my back. Probably woulda up and left me." There's no trace of a smile on his face, and Bo's usually always joking, but he's dead serious right now and it makes my heart hammer faster.

  "You're not my brother or sister. You're right. You're more to me than anyone else ever has been, Bo. Like it or not. So naturally I worry like hell about you. Daily." I grab my purse and throw it on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay. I have to go to work."

  He snatches my wrist and his eyes land on mine. "You came in here hot as a poker. Calling me names. Pissed I'm breathing oxygen right now. I ain't interested in that kind of concern. I'm perfectly fine and I always will be." Releasing my wrist, he sits back.

  "I hate being anxious, Bo. I told you this from the get go that you scare me. Lately you've been doing more and more reckless stunts and I've been more and more on edge that one day the call I get is gonna be from the morgue. I'm not apologizing for worrying about the man I love." I shake my head and leave the room before he can come back. I push past Brandt in the waiting room. "You can go back now," I blurt, trying to make it to my car before the tears start.

  Tears of goddamned anger because I've let myself get wrapped up in this man that acts like he's invincible and there's nothing I can do. I need to figure out how to live like this, because I know I can't live without him.

  I grab the flowers from the passenger seat and shake my head. I don't know why I'm in trouble, but by the way she blew in and blew out of the hospital earlier, I'm in shit up to my knees.

  I knock at the front door and try to fix the handle that slips every time I tighten it.

  She pulls open the door and gives me a weak smile before pushing it open all the way. "Hey, you. Come on in."

  When she turns her back to head in, I grab her from behind and hold the flowers in front of her, kissing her jaw. "I'm sorry." I know why I'm apologizing, but I don't think I should have to.

  "Me too," she mumbles, grabbing the flowers. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

  She's silent while she gets the vase. I watch her as she trims the stems then arranges the bouquet in the vase all without speaking to me, and when she turns around and her eyes hit mine, I take a seat at the table.

  "You scare me more than I like to admit, Bo."

  "You're always sayin' that, Kinlee, but I ain't a different person than I used to be." I shrug and cross my legs at the ankles while I stretch out. "The kids were protected. Helmets and all. If that's what your worry is."

  "My worry isn't about them. I know you're taking care of them." She sighs and walks over to the
table, sitting down across from me. "My worry is for you. Yeah, you've always done this, but back then you weren't a bull rider with a broken back."

  I sigh and sit up straight, leaning over the table. "I ain't gonna live in fear of my back." I glance at her, wanting this subject long over. I know how much I can take. "I didn't hurt my back, I cut open my nose. Baby, you gotta stop worrying about my back."

  "I can't," she whispers, picking at her fingernail polish. "What if one of these days you hurt it even worse? What if it paralyzes you? Have you ever thought of that? What if you hop on one of those things and hit a bump too hard and it snaps again? Worse, what if you die, Bo?" Her voice trails off and she clears her throat. "I let myself fall in love with an adrenaline junkie who's already badly injured. Anything else on that back, and you may never walk again. That's what the news station said when it happened. That's why you came back here, isn't it?"

  "Don't believe the media, Kinlee." I stand and cross over to the refrigerator, grabbing a beer. "You want my medical records? It ain't good, but it ain't as bad as they made it seem. There's a rod in my back. That four-wheeler ain't breaking that titanium." I smirk at her.

  "I don't want your medical records, Bo," she scoffs. "I just want you to talk about it. And I'd love if you didn't like to do such dangerous shit. I thought I was dealing pretty well these past few years, tamping down the anxiety of not being able to provide for the family that was thrown at me. But lately the only thing I worry about is losing you. And I can't handle the thought of that."

  I drink the beer quickly, not really sure what she's trying to say. "Well, darlin', you fell in love with the wrong man then. If you want a man that sits on his ass all day, you're barking up the wrong tree. I don't do half the shit I used to, and you'd kill me if I did. I ain't tryna fight with you over my back, over my need for adrenaline, but we're never going to see eye to eye on this."