Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (21 page)

My mind stirs before I open my eyes. Laying comfortably in a foggy haze, I comprehend that there are three distinct breaths in the room. I keep my eyes closed and do not move as I relish the warmth around me. The chest that my head rests on is definitely male and the deeper tone in his throat supports the thought.

Long, steady, strong inhales and exhales gently lift my head up and down. My eyes remain sealed as I lounge quietly and motionless, listening for others noises that will give me an indication of where I am and who I’m with since I’m in no hurry to get up. Nothing.

I know Sadie’s breathing without a doubt and the second one is mine. But, who is the third? Jared? No. Nathan? No.

Panic rises inside of me as I’m frozen in place and my eyes fly open. Keeping my body still, my gaze darts around to gain clues. The color of the comforter and decor of the one side of the room verifies that I’m at Nathan’s. I feel my heartbeat regain its relaxed pace. Breathing in through my nose, an arousing aroma fills my nostrils and excites my lady parts. It’s a familiar smell, but it takes a few extra seconds before my waking brain recognizes it — Joe.

My eyes widen as I discover that my body is pressed up against Joe’s, with my head on his chest, my right arm draped over him and my right leg down the remainder of his body. Why am I sleeping with Joe? Oh yeah — I remember now. Where the hell is the divider pillow? I pull my right arm towards me a little, but am met with resistance when his left hand squeezes to keep hold. Crap. I shift backward somewhat only to find that his other arm is underneath my body and wrapped around me with his right hand cupping my waist. Joe pulls me back into him as I tug to get away. Double crap. I seriously hope that he’s not awake. If he is, this will be utterly awkward and embarrassing.

Sadie shifts, revealing that she is at the lower right corner of the bed. Her location gives me enough room to wiggle my way out of this situation. I decide to go for one, full, quick roll to face the other side of the bed. As soon as I make it, I’m immediately drawn into Joe’s body as his arm wraps around my upper frame and spoons me. Shit!

My brain is freaking out as my traitorous body succumbs to the sensation of his. The intoxicating scent of him only makes matters worse and my sex tingles with absolute delight. God, he feels and smells so good. Is this what it feels like to wake up next to a man? A sinfully, delicious man? Joe nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck, sending mouth-watering shivers down my spine. His hips press forward into my rear and to my surprise, my body curls into him. A craving erupts inside of me that I’ve never felt before and my mind surrenders to the idea that if he wants to have his way with me at this very instant, I’ll let him. No. No. Focus, Emma.

Sadie nudges my leg with her head, snapping me out of my glorious moment. Okay, Emma. You can do this. I start to inch away from his embrace, but I’m met with another gentle pull and a velvet moan. His face buries into my neck more and I let out a tiny whimper when his lips and warm breath brush my skin. My heart pounds inside of me as the moisture between my legs becomes more apparent. God, I’m so turned on right now that I can smell myself. My own aroma ignites my appetite for him beyond that which I have ever felt for a man.

All of a sudden, Sadie walks over my legs and begins sniffing under my chin which brings me out of my temporary moment of defeat. I can’t help but laugh at how it tickles.

My eyes shoot open at the sound of Joe moaning her name, “Saaaadieeee.”

He’s awake. How long has he been awake to know it’s Sadie?

Curiously, Joe doesn’t let go of me. “Good morning, beautiful,’ he whispers.

My heart drops as the temptation returns. I can barely mutter, “Umm . . . Good morning . . . .”

He doesn’t move. I don’t move. Crap. What am I going to do?

Searching for something, I ask, “Where’s the pillow?”

“What pillow?” he returns, still not letting go of me.

“The one I put between us last night?” I remind.

He raises his hand and pets Sadie before answering on an exhale, “I don’t know. Why?”

I’m dumbfounded by his statement and actions, as well as dismayed at my own response when I roll my body into him enough to look at him. What am I doing? Focus, Emma. It takes all the energy I have not to do anything foolish with him as I stare into his hypnotizing, blue eyes.

With the best impassive look on my face I can muster, I rebut, “What do you mean you don’t know? What did you do with it?”

Grinning, Joe looks like he’s contemplating his reaction. “I didn’t do anything. You must have done something with it,” he accuses.

I’m not surprised by his playfulness and do my best to stay composed with his face a few inches from mine and complain. “Me? I’m not the one who isn’t on their side of the bed.”

He props himself up on an elbow and briefly searches the room. Joe lowers himself back down, placing his head in the palm of his hand and his left hand on my stomach. Looking at me he chuckles and gestures. “You threw it over there.”

Not believing him, I sit up to see. The pillow is on the floor and on his side of the room.

While seated, I assert myself. “Seriously? It’s on your side of the room. I didn’t move it, you did.”

With a full flirtatious tone, he replies, “You moved it . . . right before you snuggled up to me and put your head on my chest.”

I swear the blood drains from my face at hearing his words. Shit! He was awake. Processing everything, I realize that that means he knew what he was doing when I rolled away.

Scooting out of the bed, I shake my head in disbelief. “No way!”

Joe is cool and calm, laughing at my reaction and my enter body ironically yearns for him.

Panicking, I question, “How long were you awake?”

With a teasing smile, he rolls onto his back putting his hands behind his head. “Long enough.” He seems unfazed and almost happy to let me know.

How am I the only one embarrassed by this situation? I want to say more, but all I can do is rattle my head as I grab some clothes to change in the bathroom. When I come back out, he is still on the bed, but now sitting up and petting Sadie. I do my best to control myself, but I’m sure he sees my distress.

“Either one of us could have moved the pillow in the middle of the night. It’s no big deal. I didn’t mind,” he comments.

I stop dead in my tracks at his admittance. I can feel his eyes watching me with precision.

“Besides . . .” he continues as he gets out of the bed. “. . . you were fun to snuggle with.”

My eyes meet his for a brief moment. He slowly starts moving in my direction. Wanting to avoid Joe, I reach for the main bedroom door to open it and go feed Sadie. Keeping my gaze straight, I let out a sigh of relief when I hear a more distant door close.

I use the half bath while Sadie finishes eating to avoid going back into the bedroom. Taking a little longer than usual, I examine myself in the mirror. My hands tremble as I regain control over my breathing. What the hell was that? What the hell is wrong with me? Was I on the brink of breaking a rule with Joe?

Please don
’
t be in the living room
,
please don
’
t be in the living room
, I repeat several times in my mind before exiting the bathroom.
Of course he
’
s in the living room
, I exclaim to myself seeing him on the floor with Sadie. Joe looks up at me with a laid-back smile. Act normal, Emma. You can’t let him know that you’re flustered.

Before I can say anything, Joe asks, “Do you mind if I join you ladies?”

I try not to show my disjointed emotions. “Sure.”

We head out to the beach as I debate with myself on whether or not to confront him. I find myself chewing on my bottom lip and weighing my options. I conclude that talking with him is out of the question. Let it go, Emma.

We walk peacefully and unaffected by our lack of verbal communication. I fight the urge to look at him, but sometimes I can’t help it. Every time our eyes meet, he offers a sweet smile and I return a nervous grin as my body lusts after him.

My thoughts drift back to this morning. I’m confused, unnerved and still completely aroused by him. What is going on? I got comfortable, too comfortable to the point where I let my guard down. Why was I curled into him like that? Why did I let him stay that close? I fear that if he had kissed me, more would have evolved. Crap. Does he know that?

It’s just after six when we get back to Nathan’s and Joe and I still haven’t said a word to each other. Something has to be said. I guess I should break the ice. Be friendly, not too friendly, to dispel anything from earlier while keeping him at a distance. What should I say? I scramble for something — anything.

“Do you need to shower?” Joe searches, beating me to the punch.

Be cool, Emma.

“What? . . . Oh, no . . . I um . . . I’m going to rebound,” I barely mutter.

Well, that was completely ungraceful.

We awkwardly bump into each other as I turn to head into the bedroom. “I . . . I need my headphones,” I stammer.

Joe smiles as he lets me into the room first. Keeping my head down, I reach for my bag that is on the dresser a few feet away. Turning, I catch the sight of Joe’s almost bare back as he shrugs off his sweater and his shirt gets pulled along with it. I bit my lip as the fantasy of running my nails down his skin as he’s thrusting inside of me consumes me. I tingle with delight until I find Joe staring back at me with a wicked gleam in his eye and a smirk pushed to the left side of his face.

Crap. Double Crap.

Holding my breath, I spin to rush out of the door. I let out a huge sigh as I close the door to the patio behind me. Sadie lays on one of the chairs with her bone in her mouth as I turn on some music. I position the rebounder and myself in the corner to hide as I start jumping, facing out towards the ocean. Peace slowly surrounds me as I bounce the built up tension loose for at least forty minutes. When I stop to stretch, I almost scream when I find Joe sitting on the same chair as Sadie. How long has he been there? I don’t think I want to know.

Neither one of us say anything as I stretch and his eyes stay on his book — at least I think so. Time to shower. I hold the patio door open and wait for Sadie to follow me in, but she stays with Joe. She picks Joe over me?! Traitor.

I lock the door to the bedroom and the bathroom — I don’t need Joe coming in or hearing anything. The shower is refreshing and I can no longer fight the urge to pleasure myself. Everyone will be asleep for at least another hour or two, so I savor every stroke of my fingers and the sea sponge as they fondle my skin. I begin to rub my breasts leisurely, tugging at my hard nipples a few times. The memory of Joe’s warm body engulfs my mind as I carefully drag my left hand down to my folds and brush them back and forth. Thinking of him while masturbating turns me on more and I don’t care. I realize that I won’t be breaking any rules during this act which inflames my need. Leaning up against the tile wall, I place my left leg up on the small built-in seat. Dropping the sponge, my right hand progresses down to join my left hand. Thrusting two fingers inside myself, my left hand circles and massages my clitoris. I’m so desperate for an orgasm that I wish I had brought my vibrator in with me. As I continue to plunge my fingers inside, I do my best to curb my moaning. I have a tendency to be a little vocal. Needing more, I slide a third finger into my cave and the memory of Joe’s mouth on my neck returns to my consciousness. Shoving my fingers in harder, faster, my body inches closer to orgasm.

My eyes fling open when I hear an unfamiliar sound. A naked Maggie stands before me. Keeping our eyes on each other, I resume pleasuring myself as Maggie touches herself and wades underneath the water. She moves closer, barely an inch away as she lifts her hands, needs my breasts and sucks on my right nipple. I gasp at her first touch. Sliding her hands down, she replaces my right hand with hers. Our mouths meet, grazing each other’s as she sinks her fingers into me. I moan on a sharp inhale as her tongue massages mine. With my right hand now free, I fist her hair, pulling her further into my body. Vocalizing my satisfaction into her mouth and tightening my grip on her, I fiercely climax. Her fingers loiter inside of me, waiting for my last shudder of release.

We lick ever last drop of me off her fingers before Maggie quickly drops to her knees and returns her fingers to my sex followed by her tongue flicking across my clitoris. My fingers tangle in her hair and my hips sway with the pulsing of her fingers. It doesn’t take Maggie long to return me to a point where I’m close to orgasming. A few pants later, it springs to life inside me when the though of Joe between my legs enters my thoughts.

Hungry to taste her, I spin her around to switch places. My tongue eagerly slips between her folds, catching a large gulp of her arousal and then focuses on her nub. Two of my fingers penetrate her sex, striking her in the very location that brings her to climax easily. As Maggie comes down from her release, I shift her body, making her face the wall. I creep my lips up her rear to the tops of her shoulders as my left hand reaches around to her clit and my right hand dives into her cave. Pressing my entire body against her, my hands work to make her gush a second time. Once Maggie finishes, we share the flavor of her off my fingers.

The taste of us both lingers in my mouth as we wash our bodies and hair. I ward off thoughts of who may have heard us, not wanting to relinquish this moment of satisfaction.

Dressed, Maggie and I are met by all four guys sitting quietly on Nathan’s large sectional. Without a word, Maggie curls up with Henry. Jared stretches out his arms for me to join him and Nathan, so I do.

We all sit silently for several minutes until Nathan investigates, “Who’s hungry?”

No one answers.

A snicker escapes Jared and I elbow him.