Out on a Limb

by Hannah Bonam-Young

“I think having August is helping me realise that.” His nostrils flare on a deep inhale, and a tear drips down the left side of his cheek that he quickly wipes against his shoulder.

“Good.” I put my hand on his cheek, forcing him to look at me, to hear me. “Because we’d never blame them, would we?”

“Ever since I met you, it’s like every part of me has healed a little bit. Do you know that? Do you know that you do that for people?”

“It’s more than that, Win.” He tilts up to face me, his gaze pleading. “At least, it is for me.”

“We got home from the beach, and all I could think was, here I am at the start of something new and beautiful, and I’m still stuck in the past. I realised I couldn’t keep making excuses for her. That I couldn’t leave things unresolved for the sake of peace. You deserved better than that. The baby deserved better than that. You made me realise that I deserved better than that. So I called her.”

We both said our piece, and then she asked how I was. And then… I talked about you.”

Bo shakes his head, smiling. “I’ve been talking about you to pretty much anyone who would listen for months,” he laughs out softly. “I thought you knew, Win. I thought it was so painfully obvious how I feel about you. What I want here. I thought that’s why you set such clear boundaries. I thought you didn’t feel the same.”

I kiss him. Because I have to. Because I can. Because it’s right. And he kisses me back, fierce yet gentle, and it’s like a thousand hours spent wanting each other spilling between us. His hands go from my hips to my hair, clinging to me. “You’re sure?” he asks, pulling back. I giggle against his lips. “I’m sure, Bo. I’ve wanted this for so long.” “Okay… we’ll talk after?”

“They’re really sensitive now,” I whisper, holding my tits as he pulls my shorts and underwear off. Bo lifts my foot onto his shoulder and begins kissing his way down the inside of my leg. “In a good way?” he asks, nibbling at the side of my knee, watching my hands eagerly.

“God, I can’t decide where to start. I’ve missed your body so much. I wish I had more hands.”

“Fuck yes…” Bo’s voice is low and steady, in complete contrast to how I feel, floating above it all. “Do you have any clue how sexy you are? How sweet you taste? How much I’ve been thinking about you like this?”

“That’s right, honey. Come for me. Please.”

“Show me,” I offer, rolling my neck to see him. “Kiss me,” I say, wearing a satisfied smile.

“My favourite thing in the world,” he says against my lips, swiping his thumb across my cheek, then trailing a lazy finger down my neck to my chest, where he taps the space between my breasts, coloured pink. “I was scared I’d never get to see this type of blush from you again.”

“Turn around for me,” Bo says, his teeth against my jaw. “I want you to lower yourself onto me, then lean back against me, okay?”

Bo hisses, his teeth on my ear. “Yes,” he says sharply. “Fucking hell…” He slowly lowers his hand from my stomach to between my legs, spreading goose bumps in his wake.

“That’s it, honey. Relax. I’ve got you,” he says, the corner of his lips against my forehead.

“Amazing work, honey.” I throw the nickname back to him as I pat his cheek. “Who said I was done?” he asks mockingly, lifting his hips and reminding me that he’s still very much inside me and growing harder by the second. “I’ve been waiting for this… honey.”

Bo gave in, under the condition that I’d sleep naked and on top of him.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” he whispers, his voice rough.

“Bo… I need to tell you something.” “You have to wait,” he says, grumbling, talking out the side of his mouth squished against my lap. “I want to say it first, but I’m too tired to do it properly right now. Later.”

“Oh, good morning,” I whisper, leaning forward to capture his lips in a single lazy kiss. “Something wake you?”

“I like that,” he says, smiling. “What?” “My dream girl is in bed with me, calling me love.”

you because you said we had to be nothing more than friends. Then, after one night together, you want all the cards on the table. Do you know how hard it’s been to not tell you every day? Maybe I should make you wait,” he says, narrowing his eyes at me playfully.

His smile is still hazy, but his eyes are clearer now. I wait for a small look of permission, a little softened corner of his eye that says go ahead… “I love you,” I say, squeezing his fingers again. “I’m fully, madly, deeply, and unquestionably in love with you.”

“I love you, Win. I love you so much it makes me feel like I’ve hated everything else in my life up until now. Nothing compares to what I feel for you. Not even close.”

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” I say teasingly as he lines himself up at my entrance, my head rolling back with anticipation. “You’ll be chanting it soon if I do this right.”

“No. Actually, I was thinking… Maybe we could go there. A little family vacation… you ever been to Paris?”

“And I’d get you fired…” I say in a low hum. “Those sweaters you wear for work and your glasses? They do it for me.”

“No,” Bo says, leaning down to kiss me just once, brushing his nose against mine. “But it is my job to love you the way you deserve to be loved from now on.” He presses his forehead against mine, breathing out slowly. “Let me do that, honey.”

“So… just like that? I quit my job?” I ask, wrapping my arms around his middle and placing my chin on his chest, looking up at him adoringly. “You really did want a kept woman. I was right.”

“If you want to fight with me, that’s fine, but can it wait until after the installation guys leave? That way we can at least have make-up sex when you’re done being angry.”

He swipes my hand away, keeping it tightly in his grasp, and kisses my palm, smiling into it. “I never said that. You said that.”

“You have a job,” he interjects, placing a hand on my stomach. He knows when I get riled like this, August kicks,and dammit, it’s so much harder to continue being mad when he’s smiling at my belly, listening to me absently as he awaits the baby’s movement.

“Tell me how to spoil you back,” I say, pouting. “And do not say blowjobs—” Bo shuts his mouth as quickly as he opened it, smiling coyly as he scratches above his eyebrow.

“Honey.” Bo laughs without humour, his eyes pleading. “You’re giving me everything.”

Bo makes it obvious he couldn’t be more attracted to me. I think the guy might actually prefer me knocked up.

panting as Bo brings one hand up to palm my breast and licks his way around my nipple on the other, wetting the material with his tongue.

“No, get up here,” I beg. “I need you. Hard and fast.” “Got somewhere to be?” Bo says,

“Look at me,” he commands. “Eyes open.” I open

“Tell me you want the bathtub,” he says, his face hardened. “Tell me you love it.”

“I know you’re not used to it, but so long as I’m around, I’ll be looking after you,” he says, voice low and gruff. “I consider it my job and my privilege from now on. You want things to be fair? So do I. Trust me that I know what’s fair. Trust me to look after you, Win. Trust me to take care of you the way I need to.”

bite my lip to the point where I’m sure I could draw blood as Bo begins relentlessly pounding into me, hitting the spot deep inside that feels almost too good.

filthiest phrases. Good girl. You take me so well. Your pussy is perfect. You’re so fucking perfect. I love you.

watch, my head hanging between us, as Bo pushes his cum back in with two fingers. I’m not sure why I find it so hot, but I do.

Bo rests his chin on the top of my head, curling both arms across my chest as he holds me to him. “You look beautiful, Fred.”

When I look up, I find Bo leaned against the doorway, holding a massive bouquet of wildflowers.

I love you, I think, rubbing my thumb across his cheek as he smiles shyly at me. I love you too, he says, silently, when he winks back at me

“Mom?” I choke out, covering my parted lips with a shaky hand. “Yep, looked just like that,” Bo whispers to himself.

I look over her shoulder to see a very smug, proud Bo taking our photo before placing his phone back into his pocket.