Reckless Surrender :: Chapter Forty Seven
After a long day of paperwork to tie up lose ends on the illegal gun shipment case, Hope came through the front door of the home she shared with Bo. She could hear him in the kitchen. He was probably cooking, being the perfect husband he used to be. She rolled her eyes, feeling defiant. She hated being wrong.
They'd been taking it painfully slow. Her wish was his command. She loved him for it, but she was tired of the limbo she'd inadvertently put their relationship in. She heard Jennifer in her head, 'Marry him.'
She exhaled. She entered the kitchen. She was right. A delicious aroma of spices greeted her.
"There you are," Bo greeted. He was clad in gym clothes. He'd clearly spent the hours after work taking out aggression in the form of fitness. He eyed her coffee stained shirt, "You're late. Long day?"
Her hand stopped his kiss, "I was at the shooting range."
Bo eyed her, "What's wrong?"
"You," Hope replied, "You are what's wrong."
She hated how crazy he could make her feel. She wanted to slap him and rip his clothes off at the same time. He put her into this mess. He made her feelings bounce off the wall. Her heart rate increased.
"Fancyface," Bo shook his head, "I didn't do anything wrong here. I'm trying to work this out."
"You're blackmailing me," Hope accused. She felt herself resorting to her spoiled ways. Her stubborn streak was a mile wide. She frowned at him, but more at herself. She tried to get a grip.
Bo laughed, "I'm doing no such thing."
"You think it's funny?" Hope questioned. Her frustration mounted.
"I'm simply trying to make it easier for you to figure out why you won't marry me," Bo shrugged. He walked away from her.
She wanted to scream. She didn't, "Why are you being such an asshole?!"
"I'm an asshole?!" Bo retorted. His eyes widened as he stared at her in disbelief. He almost laughed at her insane insult.
"Yes." Hope nodded matter of factly, "You're an asshole."
She was baiting him. He knew it. He kept his back to her, tending to the meal he had planned for them.
"Why is it so hard to just accept that I want you as my wife?" Bo questioned. He turned to face her, "I'm bending over backwards to make you happy. I'm giving you time. I'm giving you space. I'm letting you sort through whatever the hell is going on in your head… but… I'M the asshole…."
"I've been your wife Bo," Hope snapped. Her stomach sank because she knew he was right. He was far from an asshole. He was a saint. Still, it was easier to be angry with him and his ultimatum as she attempted to balance between fear and reckless abandon, "Why do you take marriage so lightly? You act like I should just fall to the floor at your feet with a stupid proposal."
"You think I take marriage lightly?" Bo asked, clearly offended, "If that was true, I would have married Carly."
Hope's blood boiled, "What happened to being patient with me? Why can't we just live our lives and get married when the time is right?"
"I'm being so patient with you Hope," Bo argued. He was close to her now. Her body responded desperately. She swallowed the lump in her throat at his closeness as he backed her into the wall with each confrontational step and each frustrated word, "I'm tired of you keeping me at a safe distance. I'm tired of you acting like I'm the bad guy. I'm not Hope. We're on the same team. We've made leaps and bounds of progress in our relationship. Why can't you see that? Quit being defensive for two seconds and realize that I only want one wife. YOU. I don't take marriage lightly. Our divorce destroyed me just as much as it destroyed you, but I'm not high tailing it the other way out of fear."
She stared into his eyes. Frustration was evident, but passion and unyielding love for her poured out of his beautiful brown eyes. Guilt tugged at her heart. Once again he was right. Lately, he was always right. She hated it. She felt that familiar reckless feeling brewing deep inside. The one only he could awaken. Unshed tears filled her eyes.
"Not too long ago, we talked about control. Who's in control of our relationship right now?" Bo questioned. His arms were folded across his chest.
"You are," Hope argued. Her voice cracked. She was caving. She brushed passed him, her body unable to be so close to his any longer.
"Wrong," Bo resisted, "You are."
"I don't want to be," Hope yelled, "Bo, stop!"
Several tears made their way down her flushed cheeks. She tried in vein to keep them in, and wiped hastily at her cheeks. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to feel vulnerable and childlike. She wanted to feel strong and sure. Bo deserved that much.
"That's what you say, and then you hurt me every single day," Bo replied. A sadness had taken over his confrontational tone.
"That is not fair!" Hope screamed, "You know damn well that I don't intentionally hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. I love you. I've never stopped."
Bo's fists clenched, "Then quit being so stubborn, dammit."
Hope's mind spun. She was being stubborn. They had just been through so much. Aiden. Carly. The shooting. The case. Bo proved time and time again that he would do anything for her. He was in it for the long haul. They fought. They made up. It was different this time. She could feel it. No one stormed out. They stuck it out. He saved her life in multiple ways every day. He was a great partner. A perfect father. She could ask for nothing more.
She was tired of being afraid. Bo was right. He wasn't the bad guy. He was one of the few people she trusted the most in this world. Her heart raced.
Bo watched her, waiting for his heart to break a little more.
"Fine," Hope stared at him. Her eyes were soft, but her voice was still fighting with him.
"Fine, what?" Bo shrugged. He was beginning to lose hope that they would come out on the other side.
"I'll marry you," Hope's voice cracked again. A single tear slipped down her cheek. She was being reckless again, throwing caution to the wind. Her fear of a second marriage to him crumbling at the seams was an afterthought. She let go and stared at him. She couldn't let herself hold the past against him any longer. He didn't deserve it. On the flip side, she realized she was far from innocent.
"Fine," Bo agreed. His heart swelled. He dug into his pocket and pulled out her ring.
"What?" Hope stared at it, flabbergasted, "You just carry that thing around in your pocket all the time?"
"Damn straight I do," Bo replied, "I'm putting it on your finger."
"Fine," Hope stared at him. She wasn't lying. She was going to marry him, but the aggression had yet to leave either of them. The frustration was evident in both of their eyes.
Her eyes softened further at the sight of him slipping her beautiful wedding ring back on her finger. It sparkled brightly back at her. She knew then that the decision was right. The fear dissipated and in her heart she knew everything was right. She couldn't ignore the electricity his fingers left behind after he placed the ring on her finger.
"I'm going to kiss you now," Bo announced. His world was finally falling back into place. Pride filled him as the ring he put on her finger sparkled back at him.
They stared at each other. Each challenging the other to take it all back, or make the first move. Hope softened first, "Please don't."
"Why not?" Bo questioned. He wanted nothing more. She said yes, in the most unconventional way. He didn't care. She was going to be his wife. His heart was soaring. He was dying to kiss her to seal the deal.
Hope's reply was barely a whisper as her breath caught in her throat, "Because I don't think I can take it if you stop."
"Who said I was going to stop?" Bo whispered back. He hungrily claimed her lips. Neither of them attempted to hide the desperation that a month of pent up sexual tension had left in its wake. Hope's body responded quicker to his than it ever had. She wanted him so much it hurt. Her body physically ached to be with him.
"Oh God," Hope lustfully groaned as Bo tore through her shirt for more access to her skin. Her skin was on fire for him, "Bo…"
His lips, his teeth, his tongue, all sought access to her skin. Hope's mind was mush. She was puddy in his hands. Moans escaped her breathless lips as she eagerly kissed him back. She was pinned against the wall and his solid body. There was no where else she'd rather be. Her hands quickly sought access into his gym shorts. Bo groaned in approval when she found what she was looking for.
Bo unbuttoned her pants, silently cursing to himself that she was wearing something so hard to undo when he couldn't see straight. The anticipation was killing him. Her hands on his shaft made it impossible to focus. He cried out as she stroked him. Unable to stand the fabric still between them, he thrust his hands into her pants. One hand cupped the bare skin of her butt, the other inserted two fingers inside of her.
"Brady," Hope was fading fast. She couldn't wait much longer. Her desire for him was overwhelming.
Bo felt weak at the knees when he felt how wet she was. He had to get her out of those pants. He roughly pulled them down. She didn't care. She was ready. He hiked one of her legs up on his hip, pinned her back against the wall and shoved himself inside of her.
They cried out in unison at the union of their bodies. Heat radiated between them. Hope wrapped her arms securely around his neck and shoulders. She eagerly absorbed every thrust. Love, lust, desire, and passion poured out of every pore of her body. She was going to marry this man. She felt like a wild animal. He delivered her to the most incredible place as her body trembled with release.
Bo felt her let go. Her fingernails on his skin encouraged him. He couldn't breathe. Sweat dripped down his chest. His muscles ached from exertion. He released inside of her. It was the most beautiful feeling. They were going to be okay.
They held each other in silence as their bodies tried to return to some state of normalcy. Hope's skin still tingled when she finally pushed him gently away.
Bo stared at her. Her hair was a mess. Her skin was assaulted and flushed. Some of her makeup was smeared and her clothes were trashed, but she was glowing. She was glowing and she was his. She looked as beautiful as ever. He smiled at her.
"What?" Hope smiled back, finally catching her breath. Her hand found her hair, "I'm a mess."
Bo shook his head, "You're perfect."
She shook her head in disbelief. She swore sometimes she was an idiot. Some days she didn't deserve him. Today was one of them. Things were definitely different this time. Surrender was sweet.
"I don't deserve you," Hope whispered. She kissed him gently. She loved him more than she could ever say.
"Of course you do," Bo mumbled into her lips, "Are you still going to marry me?"
Without hesitation Hope smiled at him and then at her ring, "I'm going to marry you."
Bo grinned, "Then that means I am currently the happiest man on Earth."
She hugged him, thankful that they finally ended up in the place they belonged. Their family was finally back together and she was sure they would be stronger than ever.
"Bo?" Hope's face suddenly fell, "Where's Ciara?"
Bo looked at his watch, "Uhhh… She'll be home in 15 minutes."
"What?" Hope scrambled for her dilapidated clothes, "She can't see me like this!"
"Better get upstairs," Bo chuckled as he watched her. He wouldn't change any of it. He watched her flee from the kitchen. In a perfect world he would have given her the romantic proposal she deserved. All he cared about now was the fact that she said yes. He was happy. Hope was going to be his wife again and his world finally felt right.