Breathe with Me (With Me in Seattle, #7)(43)

“He did,” I say and clap my hands. “And he’s hot.”

“Why did you all have to leave me and find sexy people to have sex with and not want to come back with me?” She sticks out her lower lip in a pout before burying her face in another pillow. “Moo haff me.”

“What was that?” I ask with a laugh.

“You hate me.”

“We love you.” I blow her a kiss and grin widely. “But I love Mark more.”

“Well, then, let’s get all our gossiping in now while I have your undivided attention.” She clears her throat and begins telling us stories of the band and their sexcapades and which celebrity fell backstage at the Grammys.

I settle back in the cushions and listen, laughing, and counting the hours until I can go home to Mark.

***

“Hey,” I whisper as I borough down into the covers and cup the phone to my ear.

“Hi, sweetheart. Why are you whispering?”

“Because it’s late and I’m tired and it seems appropriate.”

“How was your day?” His voice sounds tired. I wish he was here, cuddled up next to me where I could smell him and feel him.

“Busy.”

“Tell me.”

“Well,” I begin and turn onto my back so I can stare at the ceiling. “We checked into the hotel, which you know because I texted you. After Jax showered and we both changed, we went directly to the studio and worked with Starla and Brian until about six this evening.”

“Who’s Brian?” he asks and then I hear him chewing something crunchy.

“The male dancer. What are you eating?”

“Popcorn.”

“This late?”

“I worked through dinner.”

I can’t help but be sad at the thought of Mark working alone in his big house all evening, skipping dinner and eating only popcorn.

“Do all women have the undeniable urge to take care of their men?” I ask aloud and bite the inside of my cheek.

“What are you talking about?”

“I suddenly wish I was there to make sure you didn’t forget to eat dinner.”

“I wish you were here for far more interesting things than dinner,” he says with a dry voice, making me giggle. “What else happened today?”

“Starla invited Jax and I back to her place for dinner with her and Rick, her fiancé.”

“Was that fun?” More chewing, and now I’m suddenly craving popcorn.

“Yes. They’re both really cool people, and she filled us in on all of the gossip we’ve been missing out on. She wants us to come to the wedding in Paris this fall.”

“That’ll be fun for you guys.”

I frown and look at the phone and then press it back to my ear.

“It’ll be fun for all of us. She invited all four of us, silly.”

“Wow. Okay. I’m glad you’re having a good time.”

“It’s fun, but I’m ready to come home.”

“So, what are you wearing?”

“You always ask me that,” I reply. “What are you wearing?”

“Well, I took my shirt off a while ago because I was getting too warm, so no shirt and jeans.”

“Can you see the elastic of your underwear over the top of your jeans?”

“A little bit, yeah.”

“Holy f*ck,” I whisper. “That’s so f*cking hot.”

“Seriously?” He laughs and crunches on more popcorn. “Why do women find that hot?”


“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not hot on everyone. But it’s hot on guys like you, who have that sexy V in their hips and defined abs.”

“It sounds like you’ve done a lot of research on this.”

“Oh yeah, I’m an expert,” I reply and wish again that he were with me so I could drag my fingertip down that sexy V.

“Okay, now you tell me what you’re wearing.”

“Nothing.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve gotten used to sleeping naked.”

“Tell me you and Jax are not sharing a room.”

“No.”

“Send me some dirty pictures.”

“No!”

“Come on.”

“Hell no.” I giggle uncontrollably, loving the playful side of Mark.

“Just send me your boobs. You don’t have to include your face.”

“Not on your life!”

“Okay, I’ll take a * shot.”

“You are so dirty.” I try to make my voice sound stern, but fail miserably.

“Only when it comes to you, baby.”

“I should hope so.” I sigh and feel my eyelids grow heavy. “I miss you already.”

“I missed you before you boarded that f*cking plane.”

I grin. “Sweet talker.”

“Get some sleep, baby. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“We should wrap up by about five, so I’ll call you no later than five-thirty.”

“Okay. Goodnight, M.”

“Goodnight, M.”

He ends the call and I switch my phone to camera mode, flip on the flash and take a selfie then text it to him. The sheet is tucked under my underarms and my hair is fanned out around me on the pillow. I don’t have any makeup on and I look exhausted.