Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(40)

“Must be your pleasant personality when people first meet you,” he teases, bumping his shoulder into mine again.

“I’m not going to respond to that,” I declare as I shake my head and push his shoulder away a little.

Yep, definitely all muscle. Yum.

He sits laughing under his breath at his little victory as I look away, trying not to smile. I can’t let him see that he’s gotten to me. I oddly find myself more turned on.

Sadie bounces back from the water to us, staying close while we sit in silence, and on occasion I swear I can hear Joe laugh when I don’t look at him. Our eyes meet for a moment and his gaze captivates me.

Joe’s eyes suddenly dart up, and before I can respond, Jared wrestles and pins me to the ground. Jared’s temporary victory doesn’t hold me long as my reflexes from the years of training kick in. Within just a few seconds, I’ve got Jared pinned in a Jujitsu move that I know he can’t get out of.


“Shit!” Jared whimpers.

Jared has been strong since we first met and is the person who introduced me to self-defense. Though he had about a year on me in training, I caught up pretty quickly. Jared was always willing to practice at home, and we’d spend a lot of free time sparring. We finally reached a point where the skill was thoroughly engrained in us and everything became instinctual. It was like breathing. We just do it. However, I continued to train. I loved to learn new things aside of my compulsion to feel safe and secure. Jared knows as much as I do, because whenever I learn something new, I show him. The only difference between us is that I practice more often.

Nathan is laughing profusely at our entanglement.

“Should we break them up?” Joe says with a little concern.

“Not at all,” Nathan reassures him. “They do this all the time. Kind of like a big brother, little sister thing.”

“Say it,” I command.

“Never,” shouts Jared.

“Would you two stop it! Somebody’s going to get hurt,” Maggie yells at us like we’re children fighting as she and Henry stroll closer.

“Never,” Jared repeats. Frustrated with his position, Jared tries anything and everything to get free. “Get ready, Nathan!” Jared presses his fingers down causing me to yelp and release him. Before I can compose myself from being tickled, Nathan grabs my legs and Jared has my arms secure behind my back.

“The only way you ever win is by cheating! Don’t think I won’t get even!” I yell in defiance.

The two men proceed to stand up and head towards the water.

“Don’t . . . you . . . even think about it,” I shout in warning, aware of their intention.

Though they’re both strong, I’ve got more body awareness and control from all of my compulsive exercising. I start thrashing my body up and down, bending at the waist in an attempt to break free. Nathan tries to pull a little on my legs to sturdy himself while temporarily hindering my movement.

“Leave her alone,” Maggie commands in the distance.

I appreciate that she’s trying to help, but it’s already beyond the point of words. We’re all having fun and I doubt she realizes it.

I call for Sadie, but all she does is run around us as we get closer to the water. Seeing that we’re on the water’s edge, I give a sudden thrust with my entire body knocking all three of us down into the oncoming wave.

“Shit!” Jared yells, scrambling to his feet, soaked all the way up his back.

“Damn that’s cold,” Nathan shouts, crawling out wet from the waist down.

“Serves you right for trying to mess with Emma,” Maggie chides as she rushes to help me while trying to avoid the freezing water.

“Yoooooou . . . ssssssuckkkkkk!” I stammer as I slowly creep up out of the water, exposing my drenched, shivering body. Immediately, I place my arms across my chest not concerned that I’m wearing a wet, white shirt, but simply because the water in California this time of year is that cold, especially when the wind gusts along incessantly.

“We weren’t really going to throw you in,” Jared proclaims walking towards me hesitantly. “Honest.”

“Shame on us,” Nathan announces, still laughing.

I can’t help but smile at them. It was funny — though I was the one who got wet the most. At least I got them a bit too.

The wind is making the chill worse, so I peel off my shirt exposing my six pack abs and my more prominently erect nipples that are pushing through my white sports bra.

Joe moves toward me as he takes off his shirt and hands it to me, “Here. I have extra in the car.”

“Thhhhanksss . . . bbbbbbut I’mmm ffffine,” I confess, too proud to cover up from the cold as my teeth chatter.

Joe grins while biting his bottom lip. I watch his eyes travel down to my breasts. I smile back at him not caring at this point.

“I’ll take it,” Maggie says as she drapes the shirt around my shoulders. She wants to help, but doesn’t like the idea of getting wet.

“Do we have any towels?” Jared asks.

“They’re in the car,” I advise with my teeth chattering less.

Maggie’s body heat is helping to warm me and I savor her touch.

“Where are the keys?” Henry asks. “I can go get them.”

“Hooked on Sadie’s leash.” I point in the direction of where I left it.