Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(86)
With a worried look, Joe shifts and places his hand on my stomach. “Whatever you’re willing to share.”
I roll and pull my bottoms down an inch or two, far enough for him to see the scar. With his index finger, he glides over it cautiously.
“It’s from the accident,” I comment.
Joe traces the scar several times with his fingers. My eyes dart open when I feel his lips lightly pressing down on my hip and my body is not quick to move away from the embrace. Our gazes meet and Joe’s lips return to my skin, delivering a long, gentle kiss before he slides his body closer to mine. He takes the edge of the covers and pulls them over us. Placing his hand back on my hip, he seeks more, “Will you tell me more about it? Or them?”
I run my fingers through my hair, deciding what to say. “No,” I refuse.
“Please,” he searches.
“Jared told you enough,” I uncontrollably blurt.
I didn’t want to admit to either of them that I know about their conversation about me and my parents from this morning.
“You were awake?” he verifies. “I’m sorry. I . . . .”
“It’s okay,” I sheepishly comfort.
Securing me tighter into his body, Joe kisses my shoulder. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
“Goodnight, Joe.”
Nineteen
Sultry, deep breaths on my neck and a delicate finger trailing my bare arm send delicious shivers down my spine. With darkness around me, my palm explores the iron, hot body encompassing me. The scent of him stiffens my nipples and tingles my sex. A hand caresses my jawline and I turn into it, moaning, wanting more. A single finger dances over my bottom lip and my mouth parts hungry for his taste. His lips tickle my nap once — twice — three times. What a delectable dream. I don’t want it to end. I could be here like this every day for all of eternity.
“Good morning, beautiful,” snaps me into consciousness.
I’m immediately met with the admiring face and twinkling eyes of Joe Covelli.
“Morning,” I return groggily.
Recounting the visions in my head, I discern that it wasn’t a dream.
“Told you that you sleep better with me next to you,” he say with a boyish grin.
Curving away, I moan, hugging into a pillow on the other side of me. “What time is it?”
Folding into my body, he reveals, “Six-ten.”
My body becomes instantly rigid. I’ve never slept past six, not since before the accident. “Where’s Sadie?”
The answer I am looking for is confirmed by the presence of a third body on the bed that is sniffing its way over to me. Why didn’t she wake me up to eat?
“I need to feed her,” I remark.
Surrounding me more with his arms, Joe pleas, “Five more minutes.”
‘No,” I object.
“Yes,” he coaxes.
“Nooo,” I repeat, turning to face him again since I’m now sandwiched between him and Sadie.
Kissing my nose and tugging me in, Joe restates, “Yes.”
I let out an exasperated sigh which is met with laughter. “Fine,” I cave.
We lay with our faces within inches of each others. Time moves exhaustingly slow, not because I’m not enjoying myself, but because of the surmounting need to pee. My left foot twitches, hoping to distract me from the increasing pressure in my belly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“I know you’re lying,” he accuses.
“It’s nothing really,” I deflect.
“We can stop if you want. I just thought you were enjoying it from . . . .”
“No. I mean . . . umm . . . I just really need to pee,” I admit foolishly.
His face relaxes, “Go pee.”
“I can wait.”
No, I can’t, but I don’t want him to know that.
He slides away from me lifting the covers. “Go.”
Closing the bathroom door, I remove my menstrual cup and find that it’s clean. Has it been six days already? After rinsing it, I double check my calendar in my toiletry bag. I’m ecstatic to know I don’t have to wear the cup today during trampolining. After relieving myself, I put a panty liner on just in case.
Leaving the bathroom, I’m surprisingly disappointed when I don’t see Joe in the bed with Sadie. The sound of a door sliding opening startles me for a second. Joe comes out of his closet and has changed. He deliberately brushes past me on his way to the restroom. I quickly shimmy out of my tank and put on a sports bra. Sliding into my running capris, I scurry to find a shirt before Joe exits the bathroom. Just as I yank a shirt out of the bag, Joe saunters over and stands, observing me. Once my top is on, he scoops me up and carries me back to the bed.
“Four minutes,” he says.
All I can do is nod in agreement.
His body and smell are becoming more familiar now. I notice that his breath is steady, but I can feel his heart rapidly pounding through his chest.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, why?” he says with a shaky tone.
“Your heart his really pounding,” I report.
“I’m good,” he insists, drawing me in closer and moaning into my neck.
Sadie makes her way to our faces, determined and persistent to let us know she can’t wait any longer. Joe finally lets go of me when he can no longer compete with Sadie’s insistent playfulness.