Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (127 page)

As Joe and I are on a tour of one of the houses located in the area called
Millionaire Row
in Pasadena, a calming settledness permeates all the way down to my bones. My hands gently rub across my belly as I stare out the floor-to-ceiling glass windows to the backyard. My eyes drape across the view from left to right as I relax into my little bubble. The feeling of home surrounds me as I take in the expansive green yard that is several acres with a natural pool, outdoor garden area off a sunroom, that I would love to turn into an atrium, and a patio that spreads across the whole length of the back of the house and down two levels to the pool.

Little voices chatter in my ears as visions of my family gathering for dinners and parties tempt my eyes. A small open section off to the left catches my attention, sparking an idea for my parents.

“So . . .” Joe says from behind me. He wraps his hands around my waist and cradles me. “What do you think?”

A smile dances across my face as my hands cover his and my lips reach up to him.

“I think this is the one,” Joe announces, breaking our kiss first.

“How do you know?” I check, not doubting him, but wanting to see if he’s having the same thoughts.

“I just do,” he says. “Watching you for the past few minutes . . . I don’t know . . . I just have the feeling of home.”

I smile and nod confirmation.

“Over there,” Joe says, pointing to the back left. “We’ll build a treehouse for Joe Jr..”

“We?” I laugh.

“And, there,” Joe continues, ignoring my teasing. “We’ll put in a water slide for the pool. I already know which room would be his . . . and the room just over there can be his playroom.”

“Maybe,” I goad.

“Why? Did you plan something else for that room?” Joe asks, concerned.

“No,” I giggle.

“I’ll spar you for it if I have to,” Joe says playfully.

“You can’t,” I press. “I’m pregnant.”

“We’ll work around that,” Joe challenges with a smile.

“Yeah,” I reply. “You have to let me win from here on out.”

“What?” Joe scoffs playfully.

“Because I’m pregnant,” I remind, smirking as I rub my belly.

“You’re pregnant, yes. But, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to just let you win,” Joe states.

“So, you haven’t let me win all the other times we’ve sparred?” I check.

Joe stays quiet for a moment like he’s debating on how to answer. “Maybe one or two.”

I cock a brow.

“I have other means to win,” he charges.

“Mm hm,” I muse.

On the drive back to the penthouse, Joe and I bask in the knowledge that the house is ours. It’s been on the market for a while, and before we left, he was able to talk the owners down by half a million since he offered to pay cash. I would have paid the asking price, not really caring either way. With the newly formed business Joe and I created with his father, we will move into the property once the contract is drawn up and signed which will be done in a day. We’ll officially have our new home in just a month since we plan on making a few, small renovations as well as have the interior walls redone with more eco-friendly paints.

“Joe,” I call while we finish dinner.

“Yes, beautiful,” he returns.

“I think I know what I want to do with mom and dad,” I announce.

“Mom and dad?” he says, perking a brow. “Oh, you mean your parents.”

“Yes, sorry,” I confirm. “I know what I want to do with their ashes.”

“I thought we’d keep them in the urn and put them over the fireplace of the new home,” Joe states.

“No,” I disagree. “That doesn’t feel right.”

“Then, what?”

“I came across something on the internet earlier . . . I’m not quite sure how,” I begin. “But, I was thinking on doing a living urn.”

“A living urn?”

“Yeah,” I reply. “It’s a biodegradable urn that comes with a tree. You use the stuff they give you plus the ashes to plant and grow the tree . . . I was thinking we could plant it near where you want to do the treehouse for Joe Jr.”

Joe smiles. “I like that idea.” His grin widens.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he dismisses.

“What?” I press gently.

“Nothing,” Joe repeats. “I’m just really happy.”

“Me too,” I agree, smiling.

An hour later, I’m hopping on the rebounder to loosen up before doing some yoga. I was pleased to hear that many of my workout routines wouldn’t really need to change much now that I’m pregnant, just altered to not aggravate my body. I don’t push myself near as hard on the trampoline, so I’ve been going an extra five or ten minutes. Since I can’t play music, because it gets me going too much, I’ve been putting on a movie while I jump, just to reduce the habit of speeding up. Once I’m on the floor stretching, Joe always joins me and usually tries to sway me into another type of
physical
activity.

Tonight, though, he doesn’t even attempt it. Joe still assists with the stretches, making sure I’m supported and won’t fall off balance. His hands glide over my arms and legs, gently coaxing my body to relax — if he only knew how un-relaxing it is since it always makes me hornier. As I finish up my last pose, Joe disappears into the bathroom. By the time I get to a standing position, he’s returned and scoops me up and carries me into the bathroom where he’s filled the tub with water and rose petals, and has the whole bathroom lit with candles.

“What’s this?” I ask, eager to know if there’s a
reason
for the romance.

“Nothing,” Joe answers calmly.

“What’s with all the extra pampering?” I press.

“I just wanted to do something nice. Is that wrong?” Joe replies almost nervously.

“No,” I say quickly. “I just didn’t know what I did for the extra special treatment.”

“I love you, that’s what,” Joe replies.

“I love you,” I return, kissing him.

“And, I thought that you and Joe Jr. could use a little extra attention,” Joe states casually.

“Extra attention?”

“Yes,” Joe answers, taking off my tank top and sports bra.

“Anything else?” I check.

“Just to say thank you,” Joe adds.

“Thank you, for what?”

“For today with the house, for you, for Joe Jr.,” Joe says bashfully.

My heart pounds a little faster. Is he going to propose — tonight?

Joe removes the rest of my clothes before taking off his. He then guides me into the tub, holding my left hand while placing his other on the small of my back. Before I sit, Joe’s standing behind me and lowers us into the warm, soothing water. He turns on some music and begins to hum the melody of the song as his fingers caress my arms.

The sudden urge to cry consumes my chest, but I fight it, not wanting him to be worried. The tears are not of sadness or pain, but that of happiness and joy. Nothing else matters in this moment but us.

We lounge, staying entwined for a while, kissing, holding, being with each other. Joe’s hands focus on my tummy and I can feel the love he’s pushing into me from the warmth of his hand under the even warmer water.

“I love you,” Joe says softly into my ear.

“I love you,” I return as I shift my head to face him better.

“There’s no place else I’d rather be, than right here with you and our son,” Joe shares.

A tear finds its way down my cheek.

“Don’t cry, beautiful,” Joe coaxes, wiping the tear away.

“It’s a happy tear,” I share.

“It is?!” he says with a widening smile.

“Yes,” I confirm, pressing my lips to his. “There’s no place I’d rather be either.”

Joe’s right hand travels down the length of my body as his left holds my cheek while he continues to slip his tongue into my mouth. My hips sway to the rhythm of his hand as his fingers swirl around my clitoris. He takes a hold of my hair and directs my head to the side as his lips and tongue tease the skin along my neck and shoulders. Joe’s teeth nip at my earlobe, sending shivers throughout my body and eliciting my orgasm to rise faster.

“You like that?” he breathes into my ear.

“Yes,” I sigh. My fingers tighten into his leg.

“Should I let you cum right away?” he teases, slowing his fingers and sliding them inside me.

“Yes,” I pant, desperate for release.

“We’ve got all night,” Joe states wickedly.

I groan in protest.

Joe chuckles and resumes playing my body like an instrument, coaxing each note, each string to ring until the climax of the song arrives, causing its echoes to escape my mouth and bounce off the walls. Remnants of the ecstasy linger in my bones, indicating that that was only the beginning to the symphony he’s planning on performing tonight.

I spin to face Joe, sloshing water around ungracefully. Sliding onto his lap, my hands take his hair with force and position his head to the side so my tongue can tease him. “You like to torture me, don’t you?” I hum into his ear and then nip it.

“Only because you like it so much,” Joe goads.

“You like it too,” I return, denying him a kiss on the lips and sinking my teeth into his shoulder.

“Fuck, Emma,” he groans with pleasure. Joe curls his arms around my waist as if trying to make our bodies a single mass. His hands meticulously caress my body as our lips lock.

After a few moments, his grip loosens and I’m able to surround his cock with my hand, stroking it with a tightening grip as I pull up. Joe’s body pulses to the downward stroke of my hand while his eyes are closed.

“I want you,” Joe professes.

“Not yet,” I tease.

“I want you wrapped around me, beautiful,” he declares.

“Not yet,” I repeat. “We’ve got all night.”

“Fuuuuuuck,” he whimpers.

As his cock hardens, getting ready for release, Joe guides my other hand that is cradling his balls to trace the seam of his skin to his anus. My hand pauses, just for a brief second, shocked by his openness. Joe’s eyes open and I can see a mixture of emotions. With a smile, I lean forward, kissing him as my finger softly caress his hole.

“You don’t have to,” Joe says, pulling his lips slightly from mine.

“Do you want me to?” I check, happy to give him what he wants.

“Only if you want to,” he states nervously.

“This . . .” I say with a reassuring smile as my finger twitches slightly. “Isn’t about me. It’s about you. What you want. What you need.”

“I want you,” Joe says as if to reassure me.

“I know,” I reply lovingly. “And, I want to give you what you want, what you need too.”

“I’ve never let anyone . . .” he begins but stops.

I smile as my heart melts, realizing that he’s opening up to me in a way he never has — probably not with anyone.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you,” Joe replies. He kisses me with desperation and longing.

My hand wrapped around his cock slowly resumes its strokes, soothing him, relaxing him before the fingers of my other hand tease his hole. Joe grunts and moans at the added stimulation and even shifts at one point, allowing me to slip one of my fingers inside him. He sucks in a sharp breath and I pause, scared that I moved too quickly.

“Don’t stop,” he requests.

Smiling, I nod and continue.

Joe takes over stroking his shaft, allowing me to focus on stimulating his anus. I purposefully kiss him, wanting him to know my comfort at fulfilling his needs and knowing that I love him even more for letting me in, trusting me with this desire.

His breathing becomes erratic and his free hand takes hold of the back of my neck, keeping our faces close. Joe’s mouth consumes mine, moaning his satisfaction, only pulling away when his orgasm surfaces. “Fuuuuuuuuck, baby,” Joe groans. His body convulses as his eyes roll back into his head.

I can’t help but giggle at the sight of him, excited at seeing him cut lose. I try to hide my excitement when his eyes open. “Sorry,” I apologize. “I wasn’t laughing at you . . . well, I was . . . but not like that.”

Joe lifts a brow.

“Thank you,” I say.

“For what?”

“For letting me in like that,” I state.

A smile spreads on Joe’s face as his cheeks redden.

“I didn’t mean it in the literal sense,” I scold. “I meant . . . never mind.”

“Thank you,” Joe returns, kissing me.

“For what?”

“For not judging me . . . for helping me,” Joe reveals.

“Why would I judge you?”

Joe’s shoulders shrug. “I know that we have family who . . . you know . . . and this doesn’t mean I want anyone else, Emma.”

“I know,” I say soothingly.

“You are the only person who I will ever give my heart to,” Joe states confidently.

With a smile, I ask, “What about Joe Jr.?”

Joe eyes me. “That shouldn’t even be a question.”

“I’m just teasing,” I say.

“Whatever happens . . . between us and when we interact with Maggie and Henry again, or anyone else for that matter. You are my home. He is my home,” Joe states, rubbing my belly. “No one else will ever be home . . . family and friends, yes . . . but you, him, us . . . that is
my
home. Nothing, and I mean nothing will ever change that.”

Tears trickle out of my eyes, hearing him profess his love for me, for us, for Joe Jr..

“What’s wrong?” Joe questions with concern.

“Hormones,” I mumble.

Joe pulls me into him, cradling me as if I was a part of his body. “I love you, Emma.”

“I love you,” I reply.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he declares. “No matter what happens, I will always be here, fighting for us until the day I die.”

My fingers brush the side of his face and my mouth takes his, trying to profess my own unspoken love and need for him. “Get up,” I instruct well into our heated embrace.

“What?”

“Get up,” I repeat. “Sit on the edge.”

“Why?”

“Just do it,” I direct sternly.

Once Joe’s seated on the edge of the tub, my mouth consumes his penis, pushing it as far as my throat will let it go. Joe’s fingers tighten in my hair as he moans satisfaction. Each time I press my mouth down, Joe’s hips buck up slightly. My fingers dig into his sides as I continue to work his shaft until he ejaculates.