Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (48 page)

I deliberately reach a little higher to the top shelf for a book to cause Joe’s shirt to slide up higher and just barely expose the bottom of my ass cheeks. I can hear Joe growl his disapproval of my actions.

“Found one,” I announce, slowly turning towards him. As I approach him, I deliberately brush my hand across his stomach.

“You’re asking for it,” Joe announces as he scoops me into his arms.

Back in his room, Joe settles us into his bed. Between Sadie and Joe’s hot body, it doesn’t take more than ten pages for my eyes to droop. At some point, I feel a shift in the bed and wake just enough to feel Joe sliding the book from my hands and covering me with the blanket.

“Emma?”

“Hmmm.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.” I feel his lips on my temple.

I can’t help but smile at his comment. “Goodnight, Joe,” I breathe out.

Three days after the bridal shower and the interesting night with Joe, I’ve been intensely focused on work when I’m not helping Maggie with wedding matters. My excitement about seeing Joe tonight, since all we’ve been able to do is talk and text, is quickly squashed before noon. I just found out that he is going back to New York for business and his date of return is unknown.

I’m starting to wonder if my decision to sleep with him is a good idea. I want him. There’s no doubt about that. However, at every turn, the chance of me allowing myself to give in, break a rule, there seems to be either a warning sign or an obstacle hindering it from occurring. Maybe I’m not supposed to sleep with him. Maybe I need to hold fast to my rules and do my best to satisfy my itch some other way. I’m so confused and don’t know what to do.

The Fourth of July is just two days away and the days seem to be moving extremely slow, even with the mountain of work for business and the wedding. My attention is easily pulled away from work by my sexual need and I find myself masturbating at least three times a day. I feel like I have A.D.D.. Last night when I was with Maggie and Henry, I was seriously contemplating the idea of just having a three-way with them. Okay, I’d most likely would have just fucked Maggie and let Henry watch. It scares me that I would even consider the option because I’m so horny and can’t seem to be satisfied by B.O.B.. B.O.B. always satisfies me, even if there is the assistance of Master P.

Yesterday, I went with Maggie and the rest of the bridal party for our second to last fitting for the dresses. We all look gorgeous! I think I’m actually starting to get excited about all of this.

Today, Jared, Pop-Pop and I are preparing food for the Fourth of July picnic tomorrow. Since Amy and Eric got their new home a few years ago, they’ve allowed Jared and I to host our traditional Fourth of July picnic at their house. There’s more room and a lot less people than the park where we used to have it and you can’t have a picnic inside an apartment. Since our second Independence Day together, Jared and I have deemed this our holiday with our own traditions. We celebrate more than the birth of America. We celebrate the rebirth of our new found life together after our hardships.

With Pop-Pop as an extra set of hands, Jared and I put him on non-cooking prep duty. Ultimately, Pop-Pop is in charge of making sure all of the coolers and bags are washed and prepped, grilling utensils are cleaned and accounted for and all games and sports related objects are organized and packed. Knowing that Pop-Pop is wicked on a grill, Jared and I ask if he’d honor us as being head chef. Pop-Pop beams with delight and enthusiastically accepts.

“How do you buy all this food without a car sweetie?” Pop-Pop investigates.

“She has it delivered,” Jared answers for me since my mouth is full of food.

“Wow! Really?”

“I belong to two different farming co-ops that have about twenty different organic and biodynamic farms who sell directly to the public. I order weekly, bi-weekly or monthly and they deliver what I request,” I explain.

“Even the meats?”

“Most of them. There are several different businesses I buy from online for most of my needs. For smaller sizes of fresh meats for Sadie, I sometimes walk down to the Whole Foods.”

“How far is that?”

“Just down the block.”

“We need to get some more quinoa, so we’ll walk down later so you can see how close it is,” Jared instructs.

“Okay!” replies Pop-Pop. “Ohh, Emma. You should see the dress Nathan is creating for you.”

“Pop-Pop!” Jared yells with shock. “She’s not supposed to know anything.”

“I know that. I just wanted to get her excited about it,” Pop-Pop confirms his intentions.

“What am I not supposed to know?”

“Anything about the dress. Nathan wants it to be a secret until the night of the premier,” Jared answers.

“Great . . .” I announce sarcastically.

“I know you aren’t excited about going with Chris, but if you knew what the dress looked like, you’d feel different,” Pop-Pop sweetly states.

“Come on,
Kitten
, think about the amount of money that will be pouring in from your investment,” Jared coaxes.

“I could work with that,” I comment.

“That’s the spirit!” Pop-Pop cheers.

By late morning on the Fourth of July, Nathan, Jared and Pop-Pop pick Sadie and me up, along with all of the food we’ve got prepared, and head down to Amy’s house in Arcadia. Just after twelve, Pop-Pop has the grill to full temperature and is starting to cook the burgers and chicken. Our usual group has grown a little this year with many of the Wú family members. The kids and Sadie are playing in the pool most of the day and by the time the sun starts to set, Jared and I get the sparklers out for the kids. Amy’s and Eric’s house is not far from the park where the community fireworks are set off, which works perfectly for us. No need to drive and find parking. Just before it’s fireworks time, we turn off all of the lights inside the house and in the backyard. Jade joins Jared and me on a blanket that we are laying on. Not long after all of the kids have fallen asleep, I head home with the same group that brought me down for the barbecue.

The two-week countdown to the wedding has begun and Maggie is outwardly excited and nervous beyond her usual habit from the years I’ve known her. She’s starting to sweat over all of the little details. Amelia and I are both having to continually remind Maggie to breathe and relax. Good thing this weekend is the joint bachelor-bachelorette party weekend. With what Joe and I have planned, Maggie and Henry should be ready for the big day.

Joe arrived back in California early this morning. I have mixed emotions, but the predominant feeling is elation and relief. Four days and counting until we whisk our friends away for, well what I hope is, an enjoyable weekend before their wedding. No one other than Joe and I know where we are headed.

After some really busy and hectic days, I eagerly greet my friends as we board Joe’s private jet, or at least I think it’s Joe’s, to embark on the bachelor-bachelorette party weekend. The plane is much bigger than the last one we used for Hawaii. I guess when you’re making billions and most likely trillions, having two planes is kind of like having two or three cars. Jimmy, Allen, Jared, Nathan, Henry, Maggie, Amy, Eric, Kim, Peter, Joe, Sadie and myself along with Henry’s other two groomsmen, Lee and Richard climb aboard the massive plane.

Maggie squeals with excitement when we land in Sedona, Arizona. She, Jared and I took a road trip here a few years back and I know she’s been dying to visit again. Joe and I knew that Henry and Maggie would need some time to relax and decompress before the wedding, so we figured Sedona was the best place to go. Two limos are waiting at the airport for our arrival and we all pile in to head to our accommodations.

Joe and I booked L’Auberge de Sedona for the extended weekend. We have an early check-in for today, Friday and we don’t check out until Monday morning. Maggie and Henry, Amy and Eric, and Kim and Peter are booked in the Spa Suite Cottages as the rest of us are rooming in our own Garden Cottages.

After we all check in, we’re picked up for the first of two scheduled group adventures. Joe and I booked a private Grand Canyon tour that will show us Oak Creek Canyon, Ponderosa Pine Forest, lush meadows and then on to the awe inspiring Grand Canyon before we head to the El Tovar Lodge along the South Rim of the Canyon for lunch.

Once our bellies are full, we head back to L’Auberge for individual journeys to begin. Maggie and Henry opt to have some of the spa packages in their room that Joe and I purchased in advanced for them. I call the lobby to make sure some champagne and strawberries are delivered as well. Kim and Peter and Amy and Eric elect to do the same thing. I decide to go for a hike, wanting to get Sadie outdoors since she was cooped up a little between the plane and then while we were gone for a few hours on the tour. Jared, Nathan, Jimmy, Allen, Joe, Lee and Richard all tag along.

The seven of us plus Sadie, load into two of the three Teslas Joe and I rented and head over to The Hike House for our first stop. We schedule a two-hour hike, grab some extra gear and food and drive over to Red Rock. Red Rock is one of my favorite places since the last time I was here with Maggie and Jared. There’s an energy vortex there that is peaceful and relaxing and I plan on putting in some good intentions for the wedding to go smoothly.

Joe busts on Jimmy and Allen a few times when they whine about our pace or complain about being tired and needing a break. Lee and Richard resume their blatant hitting on me from this morning. There’s no way Jared can save me since they know that he’s with Nathan, so I figured, why not have a little fun anyway and flirt back.

“Looks like you’ve got two new admirers,” Jared teases as I gulp some water.

“I’m not minding the attention,” I admit.

“Obviously,” Nathan jabs.

Shrugging my shoulders, I retort, “What? Like a girl can’t have a little fun flirting back?”

“Not at all,” Jared assures.

“I think Joe’s feeling a little left out, though,” Nathan says, loud enough for Joe to overhear.

“Left out about what?” Joe searches.

“The flirting Emma’s doing with Lee and Richard, but not with you,” Nathan states, deliberately seeking to get a response from both of us.

Lee and Richard seem pleased. Joe just chuckles and shakes his head.

Wanting to play a little, I goad him. “Aww, Joe . . . are you feeling left out?” I slowly take a few steps towards him before I lunge to spar with him on the path.

“Knock it off you two,” scolds Nathan.

“You encouraged it,” Jared comments.

“They can go for as long as they like,” Jimmy adds. “I don’t mind the extended break.”

“I’ve never seen a man be able to keep up with you like that, Emma,” remarks Jared.

“I’m just toying with him,” I reply with a wicked grin before I move in with another move landing me on Joe’s back.

“Or is he toying with you?” Nathan questions.

“A little of both,” Joe baits.

After a few minutes, Nathan announces, “Okay. Okay. Break it up you two.”

“Like I said, you started it, babe,” Jared enforces.

“And, now I’m regretting it,” Nathan states. “Damn straight people and their weird ways of flirting.”

Releasing Joe, I swerve and set my target on Nathan.

“Ahhhh,” Nathan yells, ducking behind Jared.

Jared steps to the side, but Nathan quickly follows him to block me.

“Now you know to keep you big mouth shut,” Jared roasts.

“What a great boyfriend you are,” Nathan complains as I get a hold of him and Jared does nothing to stop me.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish, especially when it comes to sparing with Emma,” Jared mocks as I take Nathan to the ground.

It takes Joe sneaking up from behind to get me off of Nathan.

“Thanks, man. I owe you one,” Nathan says, catching his breath while Joe holds me tight.

I do my best to keep a playful expression as my insides are electrified by the sensation of Joe’s body against mine. His manly musk is arousing. The warm smell of sweat dances in my nose and shoots down into my sex causing moisture to form.

“Okay, I think we need to start to head back if we’re going to make it for dinner,” Jared informs us.

“Fine,” I whine. “Ruin the fun.”

“You’ll only entice them more,” Jared whispers in my ear, pointing to Lee and Richard.

Jared's right. I don’t mind encouraging Joe because I know where things would go and Jared has seen Joe and I spar several times. With Lee and Richard, on the other hand, I’m not sure what to expect with them, especially to go from just verbally greeting them, like I did with Joe and Henry when I first met them, to now where I’m openly flirting. I’m not interested in them, just having a little fun as well as doing whatever it takes to dissuade my friends from thinking something is going on between Joe and me.

Back at the resort, we shower and change and meet up with everyone else for dinner at L’Auberge’s Oak Creek Restaurant. Everyone is dressed up and having fun as we eat. I’m even enjoying seeing Joe squirm a little when I flirt back with Lee and Richard more than him.

Joe and I announce before we finish dessert that he and I have planned a particular adventure for all of the couples early tomorrow morning. We don’t tell them what, but we do inform them to dress warm and to be up before the sun rises. We stay in the restaurant eating, drinking and swapping stories until it closes at nine.

Jared and Nathan walk me back to my cottage to hang out for a bit.

“So what is planned for us?” Nathan inquires.

“I’m not telling.”

“Come on . . . just a little hint,” he presses.

“Nope.”

“So, what was with all the flirting earlier?” Jared investigates as I change into pajamas.

“What?” I deny.

“You know what,” Nathan adds with a wicked smirk.

“Emma’s got the itch!” Jared announces.

“Shut up!” I yell, not liking to be reminded about how horny I am.

“Emma’s horny, Emma’s horny,” Nathan sings and dances around the room, then dry humps Jared.

“Yes I am. So, why don’t you two go back to your own cottage and leave me alone with B.O.B.?”

“Why don’t you just pop on over to Joe’s . . .” Nathan blurts.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I address with my hands on my hips.

“Nothing . . .” he rebuts.

I eye the two of them as they snicker. Neither say a word.

They hug and kiss Sadie and me goodnight, and before I have the door closed all the way, Nathan shouts, “Have a great night with B.O.B.!”

“I will,” I blurt. I clasp my hand over my mouth once I realize how loud I was and hear Jared and Nathan laugh all the way to their cottage two buildings down.

I lace on my shoes and take Sadie out for a walk around the resort before we turn in for bed and I intentionally use B.O.B. until he’s doesn’t have a single bit of juice left in him.

Back inside the cottage, I close all the blinds, turn on the television, and have a little talk with B.O.B. about my expectations for the night before we get started. B.O.B. gloriously provides two wickedly awesome orgasms as our warmup before I decide to take a quick break and hop into the tub.