<em>- Bo at dinner with everyone -</em><br/><br/>Bo got a lot of enjoyment out of the banter floating around the table, like a spirit circling above, unseen but felt in each individual's core as it passed through one and all.  Though as the comments shifted subtly from mildly crude to something more suggestive, a seed of uncertainty began to grow in the back of his mind.  Relationships that moved too quickly rarely rode the full eight seconds, as they would say back home.  And he really wanted this to work.  Looking at each of the women once again, really studying them, he felt such a powerful draw from deep inside that he simply refused to allow the lusts of beauty to ruin what was truly beautiful about the setting laid out before him round this table.  It wasn't the fine cutlery, delicate china, or deliciously prepared food.  It wasn't even the glimpses of individual beauty already expressed in the form of hopes, dreams and checkered pasts.  The true treasure of this moment was the coming together of this relationship of six souls, who now had the opportunity to spend eternity together.  In love and harmony they could cling to one another.  But only if they got it right in the beginning and worked every day to keep it on track.<br/><br/>While his expression became somewhat more serious, he glanced down at the fork in his hand, setting it gently on his nearly clean plate.  In an odd moment of introspection, it occurred to him that he didn't remember eating so much food.  As that thought passed and Vince was asking his question, Bo looked up to catch Nicci gazing his way.  Their eyes locked together.  For just a moment, Bo stopped breathing.  In that instant a need swelled up inside with such force that it took away his ability to see the world as it existed outside of her aspect.  His eyes were aflame, fueled by the depths of hers.  As the burning emotion within settled to a steady boil, he broke their spell and glanced quickly about the table, seeking in others what he felt within himself.  Perhaps he was wrong, perhaps things could progress as naturally and quickly as everyone seemed to want and still build upon a solid foundation.  But he had to do what he thought was right.  He always did.<br/><br/><em>What say us gents, indeed</em>, he thought.  In the space of breath filled by the unanswered question, Bo spoke softly, but with conviction in his voice, as another hometown expression came to mind, "I say, the wilder the bull, the shorter the ride."  He realized that he risked dampening the mood, but he hoped instead to deepen it.  A wry grin formed on his lips and his look seemed to apologize for changing directions, especially after participating himself.  What he had felt when he had met Nicci's gaze gave him the strength to soldier onward.  "I look forward to getting to know each of you, in every way."  His gazed shifted around the table.  "And while each individual here has the right to do as they please, I propose for the good of the group, and the success of our future together, that we take a little more time getting to know each other before we set off to chase the ghosts from the house.  I'm afraid if we bother them too soon, we may find in six months that the ghosts are displeased with us."  He paused for a moment, with love in his heart, praying that his words would be taken in the manner that he intended.  "Maybe it is my conservative upbringing rearing its prudish head, but you five are what I dreamed of before I even knew to dream."<br/><br/>The shift in the mood around the table was palpable.  Bo was somewhat embarrassed to have been the cause, though he felt that he was right.  Even so, he made an effort to lighten the severity of his words with a shrug, "I just don't want us to fuck this up by getting the cart before the horse.  What'ya say we give ourselves at least a night and a day before we do any ghost hunting?"  Confident in his stance, but terrified with how it would be received, he had to make an effort to relax the tension in his body as he awaited a response.