Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (83 page)

“Faster,” I instruct.

My hair dances around a little more and I force myself to look forward. “Faster,” I command, guiding Joe’s hand between my thighs.

Joe’s head sharply turns in my direction.

I quickly look behind us to see how close Hunter is, finding that he’s a good distance away and then press Joe’s hand closer to my sex.

“What are you doing?” Joe questions with intrigue.

“Trying to associate good emotions and memories,” I inform. “Faster.”

Joe’s foot presses down more on the pedal, sending my back into the seat. “You okay?” he checks after hearing me yelp.

“Mmm hmm,” I agree, biting my lip. I direct his fingers up and down the outside of my pants and I can feel the moisture spread around between my lips.

The go-kart abruptly springs forward. “Sorry,” Joe apologizes.

“Keep going,” I command.

“With my hand or the speed?” he inquires.

“Both,” I inform with a grin.

Joe nods and speeds down a straightaway. He slows a little as we’re about to hit a turn, but picks up the speed again after rounding the corner. We dart around the track several times as I continue to direct Joe’s fingers over my clitoris. The paired emotions of anxiety and arousal grow and I feel my body wanting to cum. My left hand clenches Joe’s thigh as the climax builds.

“You okay?” Joe checks.

“Mmm hmm,” I moan, biting my lip. “Fuck.”

“What?”

“Nothing,” I say.

“Are you close?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” I confess.

The orgasm swells inside me faster than I anticipate, drenching my underwear.

When my breathing returns to normal, I say, “I want to drive.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.” My body still quivering from the rush.

Joe slows the vehicle down and we stop at the opposite end of the track from the main building. He studies me for a moment. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

I nod.

“I need a minute before standing,” he reveals.

“Why?”

Joe’s eyes lower to his lap and when mine follow, I giggle at the tent he’s pitched in his track pants.

“Another first,” I mention.

With a laugh, Joe confirms, “Another first.”

About five minutes later, we swap seats.

Once buckling us both in, Joe lifts my hands and places them on the steering wheel. “Think of it as just riding a bike with a motor,” he instructs. “The only difference is the way the bike is propelled forward.”

“Okay,” I nervously reply.

Joe lifts my right leg and presses it onto the break. “Once I hit this button, if you take your foot off the break, the vehicle may roll slightly. When you’re ready, take it off of the break and ease your foot onto the gas.”

“Got it,” I say, barely confident that I can handle all of this.

“You
can
do this, Emma,” Joe encourages. “I’m right here with you.”

My knuckles turn white from the iron-clad grip I have on the steering wheel. I take several deep breaths, steadying my shaking body.

Joe’s warm hand rests on the middle of my thigh. “You’ve got this, beautiful.”

My foot lifts from the break, but the go-kart doesn’t move. Tension releases a little in my shoulders. I count down in my head —
three
—
two
—
one
. The ball of my foot shifts onto the gas, immediately snapping back when the car jumps forward a little.

“Ease into it,” Joe instructs, guiding my foot back onto the pedal, gently pressing down on my knee.

The vehicle moves forward again at the same speed as before, but I don’t remove my foot after understanding what it feels like.

“There you go,” Joe coaxes. “Nice and easy.”

The go-kart is easy to steer as we travel at a snails pace compared to Joe’s previous speeds. My foot gradually presses harder on the pedal, making us move faster along the track. Joe’s hand reaches out on occasion, helping me steer. When I’ve made it one time completely around the track, my foot pushes down more.

“There you go,” Joe comments.

Instinctually, my head turns to face him and I suddenly panic. My foot comes off of the gas and I remember that there’s more to what I need to do to get the car to stop. By mistake, my foot hits the gas pedal again, launching us forward before I slam down on the break which causes our bodies to jerk in response.

“What’s wrong?” Joe questions with a worried voice.

“What are you doing?” I ask, staring at his phone that is pointed at me.

“Thought you might want to have evidence of your first time driving,” he suggests.

“Turn it off,” I command.

“No,” he chuckles.

“Joseph,” I scold.

“Fine,” he concedes.

I purposefully wait for him to slip it back into his pocket before driving again. My gaze darts to Joe several times as I resume the speed at which I was driving before I caught him.

“Faster,” Joe encourages with a laugh.

The competitive side of me takes the dare and my foot advances further down. After a successful lap, my leg pushes forward and the go-kart rushes down the track.

“Speed demon,” Joe teases.

“Shut up.”

“I dare you to go faster,” Joe challenges.

I maintain my current speed.

“I dare you to pass Hunter,” Joe says.

“He’s practically on the other side,” I remind.

“So?”

My foot bears down on the pedal until it touches the floor and we zip around the track. Joe instructs me when to slow down for the corners and when to punch on the gas while assisting with the wheel.

“Come on, slow poke,” Joe yells at Hunter as we zoom past him. “You drive like an old man.”

Joe and I giggle like children as we hurl over the road. When we catch up to Hunter again, he lets us pass him, but he’s quick to catch up.

“It’s a race now, beautiful,” Joe comments. “Don’t let him pass you.”

“How?”

“Stay out front and don’t give him the opportunity to sneak by on the corners,” Joe instructs.

“I can’t do that,” I say.

“Sure you can,” he suggests. “With my help.”

Several times around the track and my body is finally relaxed. “Is that all you’ve got?” I shout back to Hunter.

“Come on, Taylor,” Joe baits when we pass where he’s standing.

Taylor has been watching us from a distance.

When we’ve hit the second turn, I’m able to look back for a second and don’t find Taylor. At the forth corner, I see Taylor rounding the second. Shit he’s fast.

The four of us ride around the track until my go-kart literally runs out of gas.

“Nice job, Emma,” Hunter praises.

“Thanks,” I sheepishly accept.

“Not bad for a first time,” Joe cheers, hugging me.

I step out of his embrace after about five seconds, uncomfortable that Hunter and Taylor are standing right next to us and because I’m completely turned on.

As we’re leaving, Joe holds the door open for me to get into the car. We remain silent for the majority of the ride with only our hands and fingers dancing together.

Hopping into the elevator around eleven at night, Joe and I recap our adventure, laughing half the time.

“Where have you two been?” Jared asks, stepping out of a different elevator across from ours.

“Looks like you two were having fun,” Nathan adds.

“Did you go for a run?” Jared investigates.

“No,” I answer.

Jared and Nathan eye Joe and me. Suddenly Uncomfortable, I head toward my room.

“
Kitten
,” Jared calls after me.

“Just tell them, Emma,” Joe suggests.

“Tell us what?” Nathan sings.

“Joe took me back to the go-kart place,” I reveal, unlocking my door.

“What?” Jared and Nathan say at the same time. They’re quick on my heels as I enter the room.

“Why didn’t you tell us,” Jared questions.

“It was kind of impromptu,” Joe explains.

I explain the events that took place when I came back to my room after dinner and Jared and Nathan look at me with shock.

“She did really good. I think she did better with less people there,” Joe admits.

“It was just the two of you?” Nathan explores.

“And, Hunter and Taylor,” I add.

“I got it on video,” Joe reveals.

My hand launches at his arm. “I made him stop filming early on.”

A devious grin surfaces on Joe’s face. “I put it back in my pocket when you yelled at me, but I didn’t turn it off.”

“What?” I gasp.

“I wanna see,” Nathan commands.

“Joe,” I scold with a clenched jaw.

Jared and Nathan snicker.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” Jared objects.

I hear the sound of a motor and Joe’s voice giving me instructions. Curiosity catches this kittens attention and I stare in awe with my friends as we watch and listen to the video.

“Not bad,
Kitten
,” Jared praises.

“Thanks,” I accept sheepishly.

“So, you just jumped behind the wheel?” Nathan asks.

“No,” I object.

“I drove first and had her tell me when to speed up,” Joe informs.

“Well, why don’t Nathan and I go get into our pajamas and we’ll come back and hang out,” Jared suggests.

“Why?”

Jared gives me a look and I know what he’s referring to. He’s concerned that I’ll have the dream.

“I’ll be fine,” I object. “Go enjoy the rest of your night.”

“We’ll enjoy it even just hanging out in here,” Nathan expresses.

“I’ll be fine, I swear,” I say.

“You don’t know that,
Kitten
,” Jared opposes.

“If I do, I’ll come to your room,” I offer. “Besides, I’m really tired from the adrenaline rush. I was just going to shower and then go to sleep. I’ll probably be so tired that I’ll sleep right through the night.”

Jared studies me and I can tell he’s debating on continuing the discussion or not. He cups my face and says, “I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone,
Kitten
.”

“I’ll be fine,” I huff. “I haven’t had the dream since . . . .” I stop to think about it.

“Since staying at my place the first time,” Joe reveals, covering for me from when I had it in Hawaii and at Maggie’s wedding.

“Exactly,” I support Joe’s statement.

“I know today has been a bit traumatic,” Jared counters.

Stepping into Jared to where our foreheads touch, I say, “Jared . . . I’m good. I promise.”

The look in his eyes shows that he accepts and understands. He kisses my forehead, leaving his warm, comforting lips pressed against me for a long while. Reaching into his pocket, Jared slips his room key into my hand. “Just in case, okay?”

“Okay,” I agree.

“Love you,
Kitten
.”

“Love you.”

Nathan hugs me when Jared and I separate. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” I reply.

Joe follows them out of my room, saying his farewell in his gaze.

Exhaustion kicks in as I start to undress to shower. I manage to wash my body, but that’s about it. I quickly brush my teeth and hair and flop onto the bed wearing just a tank top and boy-shorts. Sleep takes over, preventing me from being able to get under the covers.

As I attempt to lift my heavy eyelids, I discover a hazy darkness surrounding me. Blinking slowly several times, my half-opened eyes won’t focus to give me any clear indication of what’s around me and where the blurry, flashing lights above are coming from. My body feels heavy. Still unable to open my eyes all the way, I perceive that I’m laying down somewhere. A cool dampness near my left cheek reveals itself as a slight gust of air brushes past my face. Sliding my right arm up the side of my body like a snake, my fingers creep to my lips. Drool — or, at least I hope so.

Two large and oddly shaped figures materialize in front of me. They are so close, only a foot or two away. Voices suddenly emanate from the now more defined silhouettes. Their speech sounds muffled and trails off into the distance even as I try to concentrate on their words. Who are they? What are they saying? Why can’t I understand them? One of the voices almost sounds feminine.

Another indistinguishable sound gradually becomes more apparent as it grows louder and the ringing in my ears subsides. It’s the engine of a car. My brain finally starts to put the fuzzy pieces of evidence together. I must have fallen asleep in the back seat. A familiar smell creeps into my nose that reassures me — my mother’s perfume.

“Mom?” my throat squeezes out in a raw, breathy, hoarse tone.

“We’re almost home, dear,” her voice replies in a low sluggish tone.

I internally smile at her comforting words, though her voice sounds peculiar.

A sudden rush of nervousness enters my belly. The car feels as if it’s flying down the road like a rocket ship as the speed of the flashing lights zooming above my head all blur into one.

“Mom,” I try to shout, but not a single sound escapes my mouth this time. Confused, I try again. “Mom!”

She doesn’t hear me. I don’t hear me.

A single, bright white light races toward us, growing larger by the second. My mother turns her head toward me smiling. Why doesn’t she hear me? How does she not see the light?

Again, with all my might. “Mom . . . !” my voice trails in my head like a deafening siren, stabbing my ears like a knife.

Time stops in this very moment. I can see everything with perfect clarity as I stare in horror into my mother’s eyes. My mouth is left open, still screaming without a sound. I can’t hear anything except a piercing ring that echoes in my body. Why can’t she hear me? Why doesn’t she see the terrified look on my face?

My body lurches backward as I attempt to scramble to grab my mother and I suddenly become paralyzed. Then, it happens all at once as the sound of metal hitting metal as it wraps itself around and around echoes in my ears. My parents’ bodies hurl forward to the oncoming truck, bouncing around like ping pong balls, getting dented with each blow. I see the face of the truck driver — absolute horror engulfs my heart as I see myself staring back at me with the most demonic of expressions.

My heart is filled with terror as I desperately try to yell one more time, “Mom . . . !”

Jerking up, I shout out in horror. My heart is pounding, my lungs are panting and my entire body is shaking. Panic rises as my surrounds look and feel unfamiliar. I scurry to find a light and Sadie. As I search the room, I remember where I am. Grabbing my phone and room key, I hurry down the hallway and repeatedly knock on a particular door it until it opens.

An arm reaches from the darkness, tugging me in. His body is warm and comforting. Without needing words, Joe carries me to his bed, tucking me into his body. “I’m sorry,” he says with pained words.

My mouth lifts to his and he offers his willingly. “Fuck me,” I breathe out.

“You sure?”

“Yes,” I assure. “I want you. I need you.”

His mouth smiles while it’s still pressed against mine. “I want you too.”

For who knows how long, Joe tantalizes my body with his lips, tongue, fingers and cock. Joe confidently caresses me in all the right places as if he’s writing a song and my body is the instrument with each crescendo resulting in a climax.

After laying quietly for a few moments from our frolic under his covers, Joe says, “Emma?”

“Hmm?”

“Was it the same?”

“Mostly,” I admit.

“What was different?” he tentatively asks.

“The driver of the truck,” I offer.

“Have you ever seen who the drive was before?”

“No,” I reply. “Well, only once . . . it was Maggie.”

“Who was it this time?”

“Me,” I mumble.

Joe’s arms tighten around me. “You know it’s not your fault, right?”

“Yeah,” I lie.

Joe nips my ear.

“Hey,” I object.

“I know you lied to me just now,” he reveals.

We lay silent for a few more beats.

“Sorry,” I reply.

“It’s okay,” he says. “I know it’s a knee-jerk reaction because of your walls.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Thanks for letting me in . . . even just this much,” he adds.

I don’t reply.

“Emma?”

“Yeah?”

“You staying?” he asks hesitantly.

A smile spreads across my face. “Yeah.”

Joe’s pulls me in closer. “Good.”

“Goodnight, Joe.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.”