Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(105)

I get a chance to get away from the crowd, heading to the private bathroom that is just off of Nathan’s office. Wanting to have a little fun, I get the urge to text Joe. My fingers quickly type a message — the first thing that pops into my head. “I’m not wearing any panties,” I write, pressing send after I take them off and place them in my bag that’s locked in Nathan’s desk.

When I get to the end of the hall just as it opens up to the store, I scan the room for Joe. A smirk emerges on my face when I see that Joe’s jaw is clenched and he’s looking right at me. I sashay toward Jared, taking my wine glass from him and take a sip, licking my lips when I’m finished — the whole time, my attention is not on Joe, but I know his is on me.

My purse vibrates and I discreetly check Joe’s reply.

“Naughty,” Joe writes followed by an emoticon hand.


Smiling, I take another sip of my wine, ignoring his gaze.

About an hour later, I feel adventurous and text Joe again when I’ve got my back to a wall and no one is near me. “You make me wet by the way you look at me,” I type and press send, searching the room for him. My eyes look away when he takes his phone out of his pocket.

Joe replies back with nothing but two hand emoticons.

A warm sensation tingles on my ass at the thought of him spanking me. Feeling bold, I write back, “Wetter now with the anticipation of being punished.”

“Who you texting?” Maggie asks, practically scaring me to death.

“No one,” I lie. “It’s something I saw on twitter.”

“Must have been something funny,” she comments.

“Yeah,” I lie again. “I’m trying to laugh more at the comments that are posted about me.”

“That’s good,” she praises. Maggie takes out her phone, probably seeing what she can find. “I bet Emma’s boobs are fake. They can’t be real.”

Maggie and I snicker.

“That’s a great compliment,” Maggie says.

“I’d have to agree,” I return.

“Should I comment back?” she questions with a devious gleam in her eye.

“No,” I counter, taking the phone from her and placing it back in her purse.

“Come on,” she replies. “It would be funny.”

“Yeah,” I muse. “Then, the rumors about me being a lesbian will spread. Remember, I don’t want them to talk about me anymore.”

“Good point,” Maggie confirms. “That’ll be between just the two of us.”

“Good. Thanks.”

We take each other’s hand and just stand, leaning against the wall until a family member of ours comes to visit us. Maggie and I smile and giggle as we look back and forth at each other, not saying anything. It’s amazing how there are certain people in your life who you can have a conversation with without the use of words.

As the crowd dies down and Nathan ushers the last remaining people who aren’t apart of our family out the door, my friends gather around Maggie and me who are now sitting on the edge of the runway because our feet hurt from standing around in heels for the majority of the night. Jared sits between us, draping his arm over our shoulders. Henry and Joe stand in front of us while Pop-Pop and Joanna take a seat on a sofa. Jimmy and Allen sit to my right and Nathan stands by Henry once the doors are locked. Our media crew finishes packing as the wait staff load items out the back with the watch of some of our bodyguards.

We drag out saying goodnight despite the fact that we know we’ll all be together again in a few days for Halloween. Jimmy, Allen, Joe and I venture back to Pasadena together with one of our guards driving while the rest get into two other vehicles — one leading the way home while the other follows.

Jimmy insists on dropping me off first, but I remind him that I need to pick up Sadie. Anna watched her while we attended the event. Jimmy and Allen switch places with Sadie when Anna brings her down to the valet area, yawning their farewell as they walk away.

When Joe and I get up to my apartment, he takes my mouth with sensual force. “You’ve been naughty,” he reminds.

“It’s about time I get reprimanded,” I goad.

“You’re going to have to wait,” Joe replies.

“What?” I question, not sure if he’s joking or not.

He spins me and smacks my ass with the right amount of pressure for the sting to last just long enough. Liquid pools in my sex, hungry for more. His arms surround me, capturing me as if I might fly away. “I’m considering tying you up,” Joe confesses.

I giggle with excitement at the idea.

“The only challenge is Jimmy and Allen,” he reminds.

I whimper my disappointment.

“Maybe . . .” he hums into my ear, “. . . I should tie you up for now, make you wait until I come back to finish you off once they’re asleep.”

The thought arouses and terrifies me at the same time, which turns me on more.

“What do you think,” Joe asks seductively.

“I can be good enough to wait until you return,” I reply.

“Good enough?” he checks with a sinful tone.

“I promise not to finish without you,” I persuade.

“What else?” he inquires. “I don’t believe you.”