Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (49 page)

Just as B.O.B. is rounding the corner of my third orgasm with the assistance of Master P, my phone chirps. I close my eyes so I won’t get distracted by who it is. Unfortunately, as my mind beings to recollect what time it is and who could be calling, B.O.B. and Master P start to loose their appeal until one particular person comes to mind. I orgasm instantaneously with fierce voracity that brings a smile to my face as my body convulses its release.

I let the euphoric feeling linger for a few extra minutes before my eyes flutter open to see who was calling. My grin widens when I note that it was the very person I had envisioned with me in the tub. My finger presses the callback button as I continue to bask in the glow of satisfaction.

“Hey, beautiful,” he hums with his sexy voice.

“Hey . . .” I answer with my own sexiness that is a little more provocative than I had desired.

Joe chuckles before asking, “So I can guess how you are doing . . . should I ask about B.O.B.?”

I wince full of embarrassment. “You heard that?”

“Yes . . .” he laughs. “That and you’ve never answered the phone quite like that before.”

“Yeah . . .” I say shamefaced.

“Is there any chance I can give B.O.B. a break for the rest of the night and take over?” Joe nervously questions.

“Umm . . .” I hesitate.

I definitely want him, but with our friends so close, anyone could knock on the door and hear things, and then how would that help dissuade them?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea . . .” I regretfully turn him down.

“Had to ask,” he tries to shrug off his disappointment.

“If the sleeping arrangements were a little different . . .” I begin to blurt.

His voices perks up on his next questions. “Were you thinking of me at any point?”

I deliberately bit my lip from blabbing that I was — but then thought that not saying anything might confirm that I was and I’m too embarrassed and caught off guard to be able to come up with a good comment. Shit!

I hear Joe laugh a little on the other end of the phone. “I’m flattered.”

“I didn’t say . . . .”

“You don’t have to,” he interjects before I can deny anything.

“I wasn’t,” I try to lie.

“Sure,” he contends.

“I’m serious.”

Joe just laughs. “I’ll let you go so you can finish . . . thinking of me . . . before you go to bed,” he offers with the sexy voice again.

The kitten inside me stirs. She wants to play.

“Goodnight, beautiful,” he bids.

“Goodnight, Joe.”

“I’ll be thinking of you too,” he shares before hanging up the phone.

I stare at the phone in absolute shock. Did he just admit that he’ll be thinking of me while he masturbates? He did. He totally did. The kitten inside paces with eager anticipation at the gate being unlocked. It’s a good thing that I brought some extra juice for B.O.B..

At four in the morning, there’s a knock on my cottage door. I’m up and already dressed for the surprise, so I’m not shocked or concerned with who it is. Sadie darts out the door before it’s open all the way, finding a place to pee since I just finished feeding her, Joe quickly closes the door behind him and presses me against the wall as he delivers a steaming hot kiss. Joe keeps our lips linked as he reaches back to open the door when Sadie whimpers to be let back in. He uses his foot to close the door as our mouths desperately explore each other’s. I moan with every breath as I try to control the kitten’s itch.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he purrs.

“Morning,” I return.

“How’s B.O.B.?” he explores.

“Let’s just say that he’s still sleeping . . .” I reveal.

“Nice,” he replies, taking my mouth with his again.

I reluctantly peel away. “We’ve got to make sure everyone is getting up.”

“Five more minutes?” he begs, pressing harder against me.

“One.” I peck him on the lips.

“Four.” He devours my mouth.

“Two,” I breathe in before seeking his mouth.

“Three.”

My agreement is confirmed by my lack of words and the continuation of my lips tasting his.

By four-twenty, Joe and I have our friends rounded up and inside the large van that was sent for us. Everyone remembered to dress warm and I hand out thermoses of coffee and tea to help wake them up.

“Why do we need to be up so early,” Jared whines, stretching his legs across mine.

“You’ll see,” Joe returns.

“You are too chipper in the morning,” Nathan retorts with grumpiness in his voice.

“He’s an early bird like Emma,” Jared groans, curling into Nathan who is sitting in the corner where the seat ends at the side of the van.

I laugh outwardly at my friends. Had they just been paying attention when they were getting into the vehicle, they would have seen where we were all going based on the company logo and description on the side of the van.

As we round the last turn of the driveway for our destination, I hear Maggie squeal with excitement while the rest of the men groan. Amy and Kim perk up as well when they realize what Maggie is shouting about in a voice probably two octaves higher than her usual vocal range.

“Ohhh my God, ohhh my God, ohhh my God,” she finally says more audibly. “I love you, Emma!” Maggie bounces up and down in her seat.

In the main building, my friends are greeted and debriefed by the staff of Red Rock Balloon Adventures. Joe and I give Maggie and Henry, Jimmy and Allen, Jared and Nathan, Kim and Peter and Amy and Eric each a picnic basket that has fresh fruit, croissants, wine and cheeses along with an additional thermos of either coffee or tea.

“You aren’t going?” Maggie asks.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“This is for couples and I’m not going up there by myself,” I explain.

“Joe can go with you,” she mentions, glancing at Joe.

“Joe and I aren’t a . . . .”

“I’m game if you are,” Joe interrupts.

I narrow my eyes at him as Maggie runs away shouting to one of the staff members to see if they can prep a balloon for us.

“Seriously?”

“It makes it easier to keep Lee and Richard away from you,” he declares, revealing his true intentions.

“So, you are jealous.”

“No,” he denies.

“Right . . .” I offer sarcastically.

“It’ll be fun,” he coaxes.

“I wouldn’t know,” I return as my eyes drift up the side of the massive balloon that is closest to us.

“You’ve never been up before?” he says, sounding a little surprised.

“Never been in a relationship, remember.”

“You don’t need to be in a relationship in order to take a balloon ride,” he informs.

“I’m not dressed for it,” I counter.

“Dressed for what?” Nathan jumps in.

I didn’t see him approaching Joe and me.

“Maggie’s trying to see if there’s a way for Emma and I to go. Emma’s never been. She’s using the excuse that she isn’t dressed for it,” Joe announces, catching Jared up on our debate.

“You should go, Emma,” Nathan insists with a devious smile and a sparkle in his eyes. “Joe will keep you plenty warm. I’m sure the balloon operator will even turn his head if it comes to drastic measures for Joe to keep you warm enough.”

I punch Nathan in the arm as the heat in my face spreads through my entire body. Joe laughs and the closest balloon operator mentions, “That wouldn’t be the first-time something like that happening up there.”

“What are we talking about over here?” Jared checks running over after using the bathroom a second time.

“Nothing!” I sternly reply.

“Maggie and Joe are trying to get Emma to go up if there’s another balloon,” Nathan informs.

“So, why don’t you. You’ve never been,” Jared remarks.

“We don’t know if there is another balloon and operator, and I’m not dressed for it,” I repeat, a little irritated that this topic is still continuing.

Shrugging his shoulders, Jared rebuts, “So. Joe can keep you warm.”

“That’s what I said,” Nathan snickers.

Jared quickly catches the hint and joins in the laughter.

“You should give B.O.B. a rest. Let Joe take over,” Nathan comments.

My mouth drops at his words and I’m absolutely mortified. The heat in my face is scorching hot like the sun. My only option — walk away.

“Come on, Emma,” Jared yells.

“We’re just having a little fun,” Nathan protests.

I head toward the main building to get away to wait until everyone is up in the air and it’s time for Joe and me to head back.

Maggie sees me heading toward her and confirms, “They don’t have another operator today.”

“That’s fine,” I snap at her, wincing immediately after the fact. “I’m sorry, Maggie.”

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I avoid the topic.

“What did Jared or Nathan do? Say?” she checks.

“Go ask them. They’ll be lucky if I talk to them for the rest of the weekend,” I say through gritted teeth.

Shit. Fuck me. There goes any chance of hooking up with Joe anytime soon. Looks like I’m going to be celibate for a while. God damn it! I need to go get more batteries for B.O.B. now. Maybe I should look into rechargeable ones.

Jared and Nathan try to smooth things over with me before they take off in their balloon, but I hold onto the grudge. I normally brush things off, but their blatant teasing right in front of Joe really bothers me. What would cause them to be so bold?

I don’t talk to Joe the entire ride back to the resort. He doesn’t try to have a conversation, but he does sit next to me. At one point, Joe stretches his arm across the back of the seat and starts brushing his fingers along the nape of my neck. My brain tells my body to move, but I don’t. I’m not really mad at him. I know that. I know that this is just a knee-jerk reaction to distance myself and I hate it.

By the time the couples are schedule to be dropped off after landing and having a picnic lunch, I’m already in the spa. It’s the best place for me to avoid anyone right now. The pool — I can’t go there. They’ll find me and the last people I want to find me practically naked are Joe, Lee and Richard. I could have gone on a hike with Sadie, but I’m not familiar enough with Sedona to feel comfortable doing it; plus, I don’t drive which makes it hard to get anywhere off the resort unless I ask Joe, Lee or Richard to drive me, and that’s not happening.

I successfully make it back to my cottage without being seen until my foot hits the first step. “Emma.” Jared’s voice sounds apologetic. “
Kitten
?”

My eyes dart to him, narrowing at the use of my pet name. I quickly look away as I search for the key to let myself in.

“Come on, Emma! I’m sorry,” he pleas as I slam the door behind me and lock it. “I’m going to stay out here the whole time. I’ll know when you leave.”

I close the blinds and curtains and then plop on the bed. Sadie joins me, sensing that my uneasiness has yet to completely dissolve. Jared knocks on the front door several times as well as the sliding glass one off the porch; reminding me he’s still out there.

I’m not really mad at him. How can I be? He’s my brother and I know it’s just good natured fun. All the teasing, especially right in front of Joe, concerns me though. They have been doing it more frequently. I doubt that I’d be acting like this if I wasn’t so horny.

The girls come and get me for dinner. We chat freely and no one brings up the fight with Jared and Nathan, so I know that Maggie hasn’t said anything to Amy or Kim. At dinner, I sit between Maggie and Amy and completely avoid Jared and Nathan.

“How long are you going to be mad at us?” asks Nathan right in front of everyone a few bites into our entrees.

I refrain from making eye contact with him. Everyone at the table goes silent.

“They know I’m talking to you, Emma,” Nathan announces.

I lean over and whisper something to Maggie.

She gasps, “I’m not saying that.”

I give her a stern, pleading look.

“I can’t, Emma,” she says, fidgeting.

“What?” Henry asks. He leans over to hear Maggie. Henry’s eyes dart to me and then Nathan before he looks back at Maggie.

I tap Maggie’s leg.

“I’m not addressing that matter now. Later, between just the two of you, I will. Now, both of you stop fighting and let's have a wonderful night,” she sweetly commands.

It takes a few minutes before conversations strike back up again. Thankfully, Jimmy and Allen always know how to do it gracefully until they bring up the topic of the premier.

“That is not a topic for tonight,” Maggie instructs everyone at the table.

A hush falls across the table.

“Shit, Emma. I’m sorry. I really am sorry,” Nathan honestly apologizes.

He clearly knows what I said to Maggie by her remark.

My eye catches something across the room behind Nathan and Jared after I make eye contact with Nathan — something cute — something yummy. The kitten and the itch have returned. I quickly look away not wanting anyone to see. Both Jared and Nathan look over their shoulders and return with smirks.

I continue eating, but my eyes continue to glance beyond Jared and Nathan on occasion.

“I dare you to go talk to him,” Nathan jabs.

A smirk curls in the corner of my mouth. I say nothing.

“Who?” Maggie inspects.

“I double dog dare you,” Nathan presses. “And if you do, I’ll never tease you again. Ever.”

My smirk creeps over to the other side of my mouth as I consider the challenge. It’s not really a challenge at all, but I could use this to my benefit. My eyebrow lifts to Nathan’s statement to bait him. This just might be the opportunity to get both him and Jared off my back about Joe.

“I triple dog dare you,” Nathan adds with a gloating smile.

You won’t be the one gloating for much longer Nathan.

“What’s happening?” Jimmy inquires.

“What are you daring her to do?” Maggie searches.

“She knows what he’s daring her to do,” Jared replies, watching me intently.

I look to all of the faces at my table staring back at me. The majority of them don’t have a clue. This is going to be good. I lower my fork. Gulp down the rest of my wine. Wipe my mouth and kiss Maggie on the cheek before I stand up. “Ever?” I state more than really question.