Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (81 page)

“What’s the theme this year?” Maggie asks, taking a sip of lemonade.

“Steampunk,” I announce, swallowing my last bite of strawberry.

“Ooo, that’s going to be fun!” Nathan shouts.

“Shouldn’t Henry get to choose this year?” Maggie asks after stuffing her mouth with watermelon.

“This is my year to pick our Halloween costume theme,” I remind defensively.

“But, he’s added to the mix now too,” Maggie challenges.

“You can give up your year to add him,” I rebut, not willing to have someone else pick.

I love dressing up for Halloween and I’ve been dying for it to be my year to choose. Each year, the four of us rotate on themes, each getting a turn to pick for the last five years. We drew our names from a hat to fairly devise the order of picking — I got the second year. This is my year.

“Emma,” Maggie scolds.

“Sharing is caring,” Nathan comments teasingly.

“Well, I don’t care,” I announce.

Jared laughs.

“Why don’t we put it to a vote,” Maggie suggests.

“There is no voting in the way we do it,” I argue. “This is my year. I’ve been waiting three years. I had to suffer through Playboy bunnies, Bollywood and then pirates.”

“There’s nothing wrong with Bollywood,” Maggie defends.

“The costumes you got were like paper thin and it was cold,” I object.

“We still looked hot,” she counters.

Snickering, Nathan adds, “Hot enough for men and women to hit on you both when they saw your nipples poking through.” Nathan demonstrates with his hands.

“I was going to suggest superheroes,” Joe comments with a chuckle, looking directly at me.

Everyone laughs but me.

“That’s not funny,” I say.

“Yeah, it was,” Nathan comments.

“Well, good thing you don’t get a turn,” I state, looking at Joe.

“Why not?” he questions.

“Yeah,” Nathan chimes in. “Joe’s one of us too. He’s should be allowed to pick.”

“He’s not dating anyone here,” I rebut. “Therefore, he doesn’t get to pick.”

“Well, you aren’t dating anyone here,” Maggie challenges. “So, you shouldn’t get to pick either.”

“Excuse me?” I check.

“If you’re going to limit it to people who are dating, then you and Joe don’t get to pick,” Maggie states very calmly. “Unless . . . you two want to date.” She points her fingers back and forth between Joe and me.

“That’s not how we do it,” I press.

“Well, maybe it’s time we change things up a bit,” Maggie announces playfully.

“Why don’t we let Emma pick this year. It is her year, and next year we’ll start with Henry or Joe picking,” Jared suggests.

“Sounds good,” Joe comments.

“Fine,” I agree sternly.

“Fine,” Maggie confirms with a wicked grin.

What the hell was that all about? What was Maggie trying to do?

By eight, I have Taylor and Caesar picking me up from Maggie’s to take me home. I purposefully avoid riding with Joe now that I have my own car to ride in, and for the very reason to dissuade my family from thinking there’s anything happening between Joe and me.

When I return to my apartment from taking Sadie out one final time for the night, I find Joe hanging outside my door. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you,” Joe admits.

“How long have you been here?”

“Just got here,” he confirms.

“You had Hunter ask Taylor to let you know when I’d be taking Sadie out, didn’t you?” I speculate.

“Maybe,” he says, pressing his lips to my neck and sliding his hands over my hips.

I desperately fight the urge not to give into his touch.

Once the door is closed, Joe steals a kiss. “God, I’ve missed the taste of you.”

My lips eagerly stay connected to him for a few moments. “Well, you’re going to have to wait a little longer. I just started.”

Joe’s head pulls back. “I’m not referring to sex.”

My head lowers to avoid the subject.

“Emma, I want to see you not just because I want to have sex with you,” he admits, following me into the bedroom.

My heart catches in my throat as my head slightly shakes in opposition.

Joe doesn’t push with words, rather he just uses his mouth and body. We lay in my bed snuggling for a while with Sadie. He runs his fingers through my hair before resting his hand on my hip.

“How about a bath?” he asks.

“Sure,” I agree.

I prop my iPad up on the counter for us to listen to music and then we squeeze into the tub once it’s filled with water, Epsom salt and oils. Joe sits in the back and offers his hand to guide me in front of him. Sadie lays along the length of the tub chewing on a bone.

With my sea sponge in hand, Joe delicately washes my arms and shoulders. “Is she always like that?”

“Who?” I check, keeping my eyes closed and enjoying the attention.

“Sadie? Do she always do that when you take a bath?”

“Do what?” I question, not interested in opening my eyes.

“Lay there stretched out with a toy?”

“Yes,” I confirm with a smile.

Joe’s hands guide me back and proceed to take care of my chest that rests above the water line. I can’t help but continue to grasp leg hairs off of each of Joe’s legs with my index and thumb, pulling them outward, away from his skin until they slip out.

“Is this where you usually take a bath?” he investigates.

“You mean when you’ve called me?”

“Yeah…” he chuckles.

“Mmm hmm.”

“Nice,” he exclaims. “Now I have a better visual.”

After our bath, Joe and I get dressed and I catch him on the phone in the living room after I finish fussing with my hair. Not wanting to interrupt, I head over to the couch and check out the store I’m considering using to order our Halloween costumes.

Once Joe hangs up the phone, he crawls over onto me. “Hey, beautiful,” he delivers in his sexy voice, followed by an erotic kiss.

“What do you want?” I question while eyeing him.

“Nothing. Why?” he says rather shocked by my accusation.

“You used the sexy voice,” I inform him.

“I can use the sexy voice and not want anything,” he states confidently.

“Really?!” I contest.

“Really,” he says with certainty.

Joe takes the iPad from my hands and places it on the coffee table. He then proceeds to effortlessly shift my body so he can snuggle with me on the couch.

“I want to stay . . .” he begins, caressing my face with his fingers.

“See, I told you,” I present.

“What?”

“You used the sexy voice because you want to stay,” I point out.

“It was a coincidence,” he replies.

“Riiiiight,” I answer. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want to stay?” I explore.

“Because, I want to,” he informs.

“And?”

“And, nothing else. I just want to stay. Please?”

I don’t say anything as I debate internally about the idea of it.

“We could go to my place . . . if that makes you feel better,” he suggests.

Ten minutes later, I have a bag packed and I’m texting Taylor to enjoy the rest of the night. Joe and I make our way to his place, walking with Sadie once we know two of his bodyguards are downstairs and waiting for us.

The whole week after the video announcement, there are a number of comments, both good and not so good, about me and Jared. Most of the women back off with their mean statements about Chris and I dating, but they still make comments insinuating that there’s something wrong with me for not wanting to be with him, which is oddly contrary to their previous statements. There are times when I do eventually get out of the apartment, needing to stretch my legs with Sadie or just to get a change of scenery. The few times I’m spotted, people only ask for my autography or a photo, which I happily agree to because they ask so nicely.

Since the barbecue at Maggie’s and Henry’s, Joe’s and my sexual exploits are on hold with it being that time of the month. He doesn’t seem to mind, especially when I agree to sleep over at his place or let him stay the night at mine.

Monday is the first day my period is finished and I eagerly wait for Jared, Nathan, Maggie and Henry to leave my place after having dinner. Joe left at the same time as Maggie and Henry, but Jared and Nathan lingered a little longer. Once they are out the door, I rush to primp and then contact Taylor about my departure.

“Alone at last,” Joe says with the sexy voice when I enter his penthouse. He pins me against the door and consumes my mouth as his hands squeeze my ass.

As excited as we both are to have sex, we temper our need to rush the thrill of undressing each other as we slowly make our way down the hall to his bedroom. Once we’re naked, I push Joe onto his bed and climb over him. My mouth runs into his as Joe’s hands tangle in my hair. Wanting to make tonight count, I leisurely dance my tongue down his body until his cock is surrounded by my mouth.

“Fuck, Emma,” Joe groans the second time I thrust down his shaft.

I play with him a little, getting him riled up and close to climax before changing tactics. My own eagerness for him to fill me overrides my playfulness, allowing him to shutter his release into the back of my throat. Joe dives his tongue into my mouth as I climb back up his body, flipping us to where he’s on top. He teases every inch of my skin as his mouth and hands slide down to my sex. A loud gasp erupts from my throat when Joe’s tongue breaks the seam of my folds, causing my hips to rise. His hands reach under my ass, gripping it firmly as he tugs me closer to his face. My fingers grab his hair hard each time he denies me sweet release. His wicked laugh tingles my sex when I groan in protest. Joe finally works me up to the point that it doesn’t matter what he does, he could even not touch me and I’d orgasm.

As my body continues to shiver from the euphoria lingering, I pull Joe close to me, shoving my tongue into his mouth. “I want you,” I declare, not wanting to separate from him.

“You sure?” he teases.

“Yes,” I pant.

Joe shifts and I know instantly what he’s doing it.

“We don’t need it,” I confess.

“You sure?”

With a wicked grin, I nod my head.

Joe’s mouth returns to mine and his cock twitches on my belly.

“Please,” I beg.

Joe locks eyes with me as he steadies himself at the rim of my hole. My gaze stays fixed on him for as long as it can while he fills me. A smile dances across my face as I watch his eyes roll into the back of his head and a grunt sneaks past his lips. My eyes eventually win, closing when he’s completely inside.

“Fuck,” Joe moans, slowly pulling out before he takes a gradual thrust back in.

We savor each touch, each stroke, as our primal needs and urges take over. My second orgasm arrives quickly, but Joe is able to maintain control, not fully sharing in the ecstasy. He’s able to last longer this time inside me, most likely due to the release he obtained orally.

His pace quickens when my moaning increases a third time. Joe’s hands tighten with mine as he fights his own release and the next climax surfaces inside me. As Joe can no longer deny himself his own release, another one springs inside me, occurring at the height of his satisfaction.

We lay connected for a while, enjoying the contented moment for as long as we can.

Joe sweetly lowers his lips to mine. “Stay.”

I don’t reply other than seeking out his lips.

“Please, stay,” he requests again. He denies me his lips wanting to see my face when I answer.

I lift my head to snatch a taste, but he pulls away. “Why?”

“We’ve stayed over each other’s place the past five nights,” he reminds.

“I know,” I say, looking away.

Joe guides my face back. “We’re broken pretty much every rule.”

“Don’t remind me,” I return, heat rising in my cheeks.

A wicked grin curls onto his face.

“What?”

“Stay and we’ll do
bunny style
,” he states.

“You’re trying to use that to sway me when you know you’re just a curious to try it?” I laugh.

“Then, stay and it’s a win-win,” he persuades.

“So, if I don’t stay, we won’t do
bunny style
?” I check.

“I didn’t say that,” he counters.

“So, we can still do
bunny style
?” I question.

“I didn’t say that either,” he goads.

“Joe,” I whine. “I didn’t bring a bag.”

“You don’t need clothes and you can use whatever I have here to shower and all,” he suggests.

We stare at each other, not saying anything for a few minutes.

“Please,” he coaxes.

He had me at
bunny style
, but I don’t want him to know how quickly my mind and body caved.

“Fine,” I agree.

The most genuinely-looking boyish grin pops onto Joe’s face that I’ve ever seen before and I can’t help but smile, even though I try to temper it. His mouth springs to mine as he presses his body more into me as if he’s trying to make our bodies one.

Newly reinvigorated energy surges into Joe’s eyes and before I know it, his mouth is between my thighs, slurping up our juicy cocktail. My back arches at the deluge of pleasure coursing through me as his tongue tantalizes my body. I swallow hard to keep drool from leaving my mouth at the thought of tasting and smelling what Joe is slopping up.

As soon as my release surfaces, Joe crawls up my body, offering his mouth to me. He doesn’t move to seduce me further or to place himself inside me. Before I get the chance to question him, he kneels up and gets off the bed. He reaches his hand forward and I eagerly take his offer. Joe leads me into the bathroom, never letting go as he turns on the shower.

He tugs me into him so we’re both wading under the warm water. My body sizzles under the stimulation from the water and his hot body against mine. Our faces are a few inches from each other, but we don’t kiss. Our gazes drift between each other’s faces and our hands as we erotically caress the other. My brain shuts off as my body remains still, waiting and watching to see what Joe will do next.

At some point, my hand reaches forward to grab his cock, but Joe blocks me. “Don’t move,” he instructs. “Just enjoy it.”

I nod my understanding even thought I’m eager for more.

His fingers trail the length of my arms before lifting back up to my neck. Then, they graze over my breasts, purposefully traveling over my nipples and down to the edge of my lower lips before making their way back up my body, repeating the same act again and again.

Suddenly, Joe’s hands cup my face and his mouth converges with mine. My hands lift, surrounding his to keep them in place. With the gentlest nudge, Joe guides my body backward until my back brushes the slate tile wall.

“You ready?” he checks.

“Yes,” I answer, antsy with anticipation.

Liquid drips from my sex, crawling down the inside of my leg.

Joe takes his time, teasing me as his mouth explores. His hands caress my body as his lips trail my neck and shoulders. He guides me to turn. Our mouths unite for a while before he journeys down my back, all the way to my rear. Joe nudges my inner left thigh, gently pushing out for me to stand wider. Gripping my ass, he presses his lips forward with his tongue tickling the crease of my folds. My legs shake from the rush of pleasure.

Bringing me close to climax, Joe suddenly stops and moves his mouth away. His body moves closer and I can feel the heat radiating off of his skin. “Ready?” he checks.

“Yes,” I moan.

“You sure?” he hums.

“Yes,” I confirm.

Joe’s mouth brushes mine as his hands slide around my body and his left hand fondles my clitoris.

“Please,” I beg, unable to take the denial of my fantasy from coming true. “Please.”

His left hand moves to my hip, holding me in place as he steadies his cock and gently brushes the rim of my hole. My sex clenches, full of excitement as my body waits, tingling all over. My forehead presses into the wall when his shaft slowly slides inside and my body trembles from the sensation of truly feeling him once again. Moans release from both of us when he’s fully penetrated my cave.

“You feel so fucking good,” Joe groans into my neck.

“I know,” I breathe out.

My body is so turned on by the reality of what’s happening.

Joe pulls out slightly before pulsing back in.

“Joe,” I whimper.

“Emma,” he grunts.

Joe continues to take slow, gradual pumps into me as his cocks glides in and out. My palms rest against the wall, securing me in place, wishing there was something to grab onto. The lack of a condom allows me to feel his cock stroke and tease each mound more where I’m at a constant state of being on the edge of an orgasm.

“Cum for me, beautiful,” he requests, dipping one hand to my nub.

“Yes,” my voice cracks.

A shiver rings through my body.

“Cum all over me,” Joe directs.

“Yes,” I say as my moans get louder.

“Fuck, Emma,” Joe says through gritted teeth. His cock stiffens inside me. “You need to cum before you make me cum.”

“Yes . . .” I agree just before the orgasm shakes through me. My throat squeals as my vagina clamps down around his cock.

“Fuck,” Joe groans, pushing harder into me.

A second release floods my body at the height of Joe’s shaft being fully engorged, readying for his own release. “Joooooe . . .” my voice whimpers as my lungs gasp for air.

He stays sandwiched against me with his cock buried deep as our breathing slows and our bodies convulse. “You’re so fucking sexy.”

I laugh at his statement.

Joe’s cock twitches inside me when he removes himself. We both groan from the disconnect of our bodies. I turn around the moment I have a chance and yank his face to mine, forcing my tongue into his mouth. Our bodies stick to each other from our sweat and the steam. It doesn’t take long for Joe to drop to his knees and return his mouth to my sex, gulping up the mixture of our cum that hasn’t dripped down my legs and onto the floor. He stands back up when he’s finished, offering his mouth to mine as he scoops me up and positions me against the wall, his cock is still hard — as if he never came.

“More,” I request.

“You sure?” he checks.

“Yes,” I reply.

With a devious grin, Joe steadies the tip of his penis and glides in with a single push. He takes his time thrusting inside of me, tightening his grip on my rear. My hands cup the back of his head as we stare into each other’s eyes until my next orgasm surfaces.

“You going to cum for me?”

“Yes,” I sigh.

“Good,” he grunts.

“Cum with me,” I beg.

“You sure?”

“Yes . . .” I barely moan as the release bursts.

“Emma,” Joe pants into my ear.

We both whimper when he removes himself from me, but we stay connected as much as we can for the rest of the time in the shower. Joe offers me a brand new toothbrush and lotion after he helps me towel dry. When we leave the bathroom, we climb back into his bed naked with him spooning me. Sadie snuggles in close, aware that we’re settling in for the night.

“Can you explain how it works?” Joe asks.

“What?”

“Your calendar,” he explains.

“Why?”

“I want it to be my responsibility too, not just yours,” he confesses.

With a smirk, I ask, “So you like not using the condoms?”

“Yes, can’t you tell,” he chuckles. “Besides, I think we both prefer not using them.”

“Maybe,” I tease.

“Yes,” he presses, snatching a kiss.

“I’ll think about it,” I say. After a moment of silence, I can’t help but comment more than question. “So, it looks like
bunny style
is a keeper?”

“Definitely,” he agrees quickly, sealing his statement with a kiss.

“Good,” I reply grinning.

“Another first,” Joe announces.

With a giggle, I confirm, “Another first.”