Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(100)

“We’re almost home, dear,” her voice replies in a low sluggish tone.

I internally smile at her comforting words, though her voice sounds peculiar.

A sudden rush of nervousness enters my belly. The car feels as if it’s flying down the road like a rocket ship as the speed of the flashing lights zooming above my head all blur into one.

“Mom,” I try to shout, but not a single sound escapes my mouth this time. Confused, I try again. “Mom!”

She doesn’t hear me. I don’t hear me.

A single, bright white light races toward us, growing larger by the second. My mother turns her head toward me smiling. Why doesn’t she hear me? How does she not see the light?

Again, with all my might. “Mom . . . !” my voice trails in my head like a deafening siren, stabbing my ears like a knife.

Time stops in this very moment. I can see everything with perfect clarity as I stare in horror into my mother’s eyes. My mouth is left open, still screaming without a sound. I can’t hear anything except a piercing ring that echoes in my body. Why can’t she hear me? Why doesn’t she see the terrified look on my face?

My body lurches backward as I attempt to scramble to grab my mother and I suddenly become paralyzed. Then, it happens all at once as the sound of metal hitting metal as it wraps itself around and around echoes in my ears. My parents’ bodies hurl forward to the oncoming truck, bouncing around like ping pong balls, getting dented with each blow. I see the face of the truck driver — absolute horror engulfs my heart as I see myself staring back at me with the most demonic of expressions.

My heart is filled with terror as I desperately try to yell one more time, “Mom . . . !”

Jerking up, I shout out in horror. My heart is pounding, my lungs are panting and my entire body is shaking. Panic rises as my surrounds look and feel unfamiliar. I scurry to find a light and Sadie. As I search the room, I remember where I am. Grabbing my phone and room key, I hurry down the hallway and repeatedly knock on a particular door it until it opens.

An arm reaches from the darkness, tugging me in. His body is warm and comforting. Without needing words, Joe carries me to his bed, tucking me into his body. “I’m sorry,” he says with pained words.

My mouth lifts to his and he offers his willingly. “Fuck me,” I breathe out.

“You sure?”

“Yes,” I assure. “I want you. I need you.”

His mouth smiles while it’s still pressed against mine. “I want you too.”

For who knows how long, Joe tantalizes my body with his lips, tongue, fingers and cock. Joe confidently caresses me in all the right places as if he’s writing a song and my body is the instrument with each crescendo resulting in a climax.

After laying quietly for a few moments from our frolic under his covers, Joe says, “Emma?”

“Hmm?”

“Was it the same?”

“Mostly,” I admit.

“What was different?” he tentatively asks.

“The driver of the truck,” I offer.

“Have you ever seen who the drive was before?”

“No,” I reply. “Well, only once . . . it was Maggie.”

“Who was it this time?”

“Me,” I mumble.

Joe’s arms tighten around me. “You know it’s not your fault, right?”

“Yeah,” I lie.

Joe nips my ear.

“Hey,” I object.

“I know you lied to me just now,” he reveals.

We lay silent for a few more beats.

“Sorry,” I reply.

“It’s okay,” he says. “I know it’s a knee-jerk reaction because of your walls.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Thanks for letting me in . . . even just this much,” he adds.

I don’t reply.

“Emma?”

“Yeah?”

“You staying?” he asks hesitantly.

A smile spreads across my face. “Yeah.”


Joe’s pulls me in closer. “Good.”

“Goodnight, Joe.”

“Goodnight, beautiful.”





Eighty Five


Warm, soft kisses on my neck stir me from sleep.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

I’ll never tire hearing him greet me all the ways he does.

“Good morning,” I return, keeping my eyes closed. “What time is it?”

“Just after six,” he reveals, then tastes my mouth. “Should I order some room service?”

“Sure,” I agree.

Joe groans when I slip out of our embrace.

“I need to pee,” I confess. “I’ll be right back.”

“What are you in the mood to eat?”

A sinful smile emerges on my face as I look over my shoulder and stand in the doorway for the bathroom.

“I meant for food,” Joe corrects.

“Me too,” I answer. Stepping into the bathroom, I reply before closing the door. “Surprise me.”

The door opens to the bathroom right as I finish flushing the toilet. “I ordered something light since I know we’re going to meet up with Pop-Pop and Joanna.” Joe steals a kiss before I make it to the sink.