Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(22)



“Let me see . . . let me see,” Nathan directs, waving his hand, stuffing the last bite in. “Yay!” he shouts wiping his hands clean. “Can I get another one for the shop to put on my desk?”

“Sure,” I smile in appreciation.

“If you’d like a photo too Pop-Pop, I have them on my iPad so you can look through them and tell me which ones. Okay?” I gladly offer.

“Definitely sweetheart. Thank you,” he graciously accepts.

“I want to open the other one,” Nathan declares, reaching for the larger box. He double checks his face and hands with a napkin. “Oh my God,” he proclaims, holding up the book for Jared and Pop-Pop to see.

The three of them huddle together as Nathan carefully turns the pages one by one. They don’t say a word for the first few minutes.

“Ian, his wife and their team did a wonderful job!” Jared exclaims.

“I know,” I agree. “I’m going to send them a tip.”

“There’s a lot of the three of us,” Jared announces.

“I know. I did that on purpose. If you want other shots, you can look on the iPad. I just wanted to give you two something special that mostly has just you, Nathan and Pop-Pop in them. It’s not the same as the one I put together for Maggie and Henry or the rest of the family,” I explain.

“Did you bring them along?” Nathan asks.

“Yes.” I get up to get it from my room.

Two hours later, after looking at every picture and practically making a comment about each one, Pop-Pop makes his way to bed. A third into the movie, Nathan is sound asleep and snoring on Jared’s shoulder.





Fifty Six


Thursday afternoon, I’m back at my apartment and I’m plugging away with more business tasks. By nighttime, approximately ten in the evening, my itch becomes a glaring distraction and masturbation is not relieving it. Joe has been texting me since my time with Jade ended, but I’ve ignored seeing him for various reasons. Now, I can no longer do that.


After changing into fresh underwear, I brush my hair and check myself in the mirror before taking Sadie out for a quick walk. Outside of Joe’s building, just before the doorman greets me, I text Joe.

“Free tonight?” I send.

“For you, always,” he immediately responds. “What time?”

“In your elevator,” I write.

He sends a winking, kissy-face emoticon. “See you in a second, beautiful.”

My body shakes with anticipation as the elevator rises.

Anna greets me at the door and doesn’t seem surprised; rather, she appears more pleased to see me than anything. Anna ushers me in quickly, informing me that she has one little thing to finish up in the kitchen before she’s heading home. What a peculiar statement to make, especially with how she says it.

Normally, she would have her own room off of the main place like she does back in New York, but Joe’s penthouse does not have living quarters for staff. Instead, she lives across the street in the apartments that can bee seen from Joe’s main balcony that looks Colorado Boulevard.

Joe rushes to meet me just as Anna finishes letting me in. I can see the struggle to control himself in his eyes. If Anna wasn’t here, we’d both already be naked and f*cking each other on the marble floor.

As Anna heads to the kitchen, Joe is quick to follow her after telling me he’s going to check to see how much longer she’s going to be and to wait where I am. Wanting to distract myself and help pass time, I feel a little adventurous and make my way down the hall toward Joe’s room with Sadie close behind.

Leaving Joe’s bathroom, I find Joe perched in his bedroom doorway with a sinful grin on his face.

“I had to pee,” I report, taking a few steps toward him.

Joe lifts a quizzical brow.

“What?!” I play along, shrugging my shoulders.

Joe shakes his head.

“Anna gone?”

“Yes,” he notifies.

Seeing that he’s not going to make a move, I suddenly become bold. Sliding my hands down, they curl under the edge of my loose summer dress. My eyes stay fixed on Joe as I slip my lace underwear down and then toss them to him. Joe catches them effortlessly and takes a long, deep inhale before placing my panties into his pocket. I take several steps toward him — my breasts grazing his chest while my hands stay to my side. More confident, my index and middle fingers of my right hand gradually walk up the side of Joe’s leg to his belt buckle.

The next thing I know, my mouth is exploring Joe’s and I’m between him and the bed. Frantically, our hands scurry to undo his belt and pants. Joe puts the condom on as my hands rush to unbutton his shirt. Just as I get the third button done, Joe shifts my body back and buries his cock deep inside me in one single movement. A gasp leaves my throat, not expecting the sensation and appreciating finally having him.

Joe vigorously plows into my vagina with short, brisk, strong thrusts. My hands curl over the top of his shoulders to hold on for the ride. Joe’s hand tightens on my hip as he pushes harder into me.

“Don’t . . . stop . . .” I command, barely able to breathe.

“I . . . don’t want to . . .” he announces between grunts.

“I’m . . . almost . . .” my voice pants. My back arches and my pelvis reach instinctually for a particular angle. I can feel my nails digging into his back as the orgasm floods my body. “Fuuuuuuuck . . . Joooooooooe,” I whimper my satisfaction.

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