Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(59)

Sadie nudges my leg with her head, snapping me out of my glorious moment. Okay, Emma. You can do this. I start to inch away from his embrace, but I’m met with another gentle pull and a velvet moan. His face buries into my neck more and I let out a tiny whimper when his lips and warm breath brush my skin. My heart pounds inside of me as the moisture between my legs becomes more apparent. God, I’m so turned on right now that I can smell myself. My own aroma ignites my appetite for him beyond that which I have ever felt for a man.

All of a sudden, Sadie walks over my legs and begins sniffing under my chin which brings me out of my temporary moment of defeat. I can’t help but laugh at how it tickles.

My eyes shoot open at the sound of Joe moaning her name, “Saaaadieeee.”

He’s awake. How long has he been awake to know it’s Sadie?

Curiously, Joe doesn’t let go of me. “Good morning, beautiful,’ he whispers.

My heart drops as the temptation returns. I can barely mutter, “Umm . . . Good morning . . . .”

He doesn’t move. I don’t move. Crap. What am I going to do?

Searching for something, I ask, “Where’s the pillow?”


“What pillow?” he returns, still not letting go of me.

“The one I put between us last night?” I remind.

He raises his hand and pets Sadie before answering on an exhale, “I don’t know. Why?”

I’m dumbfounded by his statement and actions, as well as dismayed at my own response when I roll my body into him enough to look at him. What am I doing? Focus, Emma. It takes all the energy I have not to do anything foolish with him as I stare into his hypnotizing, blue eyes.

With the best impassive look on my face I can muster, I rebut, “What do you mean you don’t know? What did you do with it?”

Grinning, Joe looks like he’s contemplating his reaction. “I didn’t do anything. You must have done something with it,” he accuses.

I’m not surprised by his playfulness and do my best to stay composed with his face a few inches from mine and complain. “Me? I’m not the one who isn’t on their side of the bed.”

He props himself up on an elbow and briefly searches the room. Joe lowers himself back down, placing his head in the palm of his hand and his left hand on my stomach. Looking at me he chuckles and gestures. “You threw it over there.”

Not believing him, I sit up to see. The pillow is on the floor and on his side of the room.

While seated, I assert myself. “Seriously? It’s on your side of the room. I didn’t move it, you did.”

With a full flirtatious tone, he replies, “You moved it . . . right before you snuggled up to me and put your head on my chest.”

I swear the blood drains from my face at hearing his words. Shit! He was awake. Processing everything, I realize that that means he knew what he was doing when I rolled away.

Scooting out of the bed, I shake my head in disbelief. “No way!”

Joe is cool and calm, laughing at my reaction and my enter body ironically yearns for him.

Panicking, I question, “How long were you awake?”

With a teasing smile, he rolls onto his back putting his hands behind his head. “Long enough.” He seems unfazed and almost happy to let me know.

How am I the only one embarrassed by this situation? I want to say more, but all I can do is rattle my head as I grab some clothes to change in the bathroom. When I come back out, he is still on the bed, but now sitting up and petting Sadie. I do my best to control myself, but I’m sure he sees my distress.

“Either one of us could have moved the pillow in the middle of the night. It’s no big deal. I didn’t mind,” he comments.

I stop dead in my tracks at his admittance. I can feel his eyes watching me with precision.

“Besides . . .” he continues as he gets out of the bed. “. . . you were fun to snuggle with.”

My eyes meet his for a brief moment. He slowly starts moving in my direction. Wanting to avoid Joe, I reach for the main bedroom door to open it and go feed Sadie. Keeping my gaze straight, I let out a sigh of relief when I hear a more distant door close.

I use the half bath while Sadie finishes eating to avoid going back into the bedroom. Taking a little longer than usual, I examine myself in the mirror. My hands tremble as I regain control over my breathing. What the hell was that? What the hell is wrong with me? Was I on the brink of breaking a rule with Joe?

Please don’t be in the living room, please don’t be in the living room, I repeat several times in my mind before exiting the bathroom. Of course he’s in the living room, I exclaim to myself seeing him on the floor with Sadie. Joe looks up at me with a laid-back smile. Act normal, Emma. You can’t let him know that you’re flustered.

Before I can say anything, Joe asks, “Do you mind if I join you ladies?”

I try not to show my disjointed emotions. “Sure.”

We head out to the beach as I debate with myself on whether or not to confront him. I find myself chewing on my bottom lip and weighing my options. I conclude that talking with him is out of the question. Let it go, Emma.

We walk peacefully and unaffected by our lack of verbal communication. I fight the urge to look at him, but sometimes I can’t help it. Every time our eyes meet, he offers a sweet smile and I return a nervous grin as my body lusts after him.