Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(89)
“Sounds good,” Joe comments.
“Fine,” I agree sternly.
“Fine,” Maggie confirms with a wicked grin.
What the hell was that all about? What was Maggie trying to do?
By eight, I have Taylor and Caesar picking me up from Maggie’s to take me home. I purposefully avoid riding with Joe now that I have my own car to ride in, and for the very reason to dissuade my family from thinking there’s anything happening between Joe and me.
When I return to my apartment from taking Sadie out one final time for the night, I find Joe hanging outside my door. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you,” Joe admits.
“How long have you been here?”
“Just got here,” he confirms.
“You had Hunter ask Taylor to let you know when I’d be taking Sadie out, didn’t you?” I speculate.
“Maybe,” he says, pressing his lips to my neck and sliding his hands over my hips.
I desperately fight the urge not to give into his touch.
Once the door is closed, Joe steals a kiss. “God, I’ve missed the taste of you.”
My lips eagerly stay connected to him for a few moments. “Well, you’re going to have to wait a little longer. I just started.”
Joe’s head pulls back. “I’m not referring to sex.”
My head lowers to avoid the subject.
“Emma, I want to see you not just because I want to have sex with you,” he admits, following me into the bedroom.
My heart catches in my throat as my head slightly shakes in opposition.
Joe doesn’t push with words, rather he just uses his mouth and body. We lay in my bed snuggling for a while with Sadie. He runs his fingers through my hair before resting his hand on my hip.
“How about a bath?” he asks.
“Sure,” I agree.
I prop my iPad up on the counter for us to listen to music and then we squeeze into the tub once it’s filled with water, Epsom salt and oils. Joe sits in the back and offers his hand to guide me in front of him. Sadie lays along the length of the tub chewing on a bone.
With my sea sponge in hand, Joe delicately washes my arms and shoulders. “Is she always like that?”
“Who?” I check, keeping my eyes closed and enjoying the attention.
“Sadie? Do she always do that when you take a bath?”
“Do what?” I question, not interested in opening my eyes.
“Lay there stretched out with a toy?”
“Yes,” I confirm with a smile.
Joe’s hands guide me back and proceed to take care of my chest that rests above the water line. I can’t help but continue to grasp leg hairs off of each of Joe’s legs with my index and thumb, pulling them outward, away from his skin until they slip out.
“Is this where you usually take a bath?” he investigates.
“You mean when you’ve called me?”
“Yeah…” he chuckles.
“Mmm hmm.”
“Nice,” he exclaims. “Now I have a better visual.”
After our bath, Joe and I get dressed and I catch him on the phone in the living room after I finish fussing with my hair. Not wanting to interrupt, I head over to the couch and check out the store I’m considering using to order our Halloween costumes.
Once Joe hangs up the phone, he crawls over onto me. “Hey, beautiful,” he delivers in his sexy voice, followed by an erotic kiss.
“What do you want?” I question while eyeing him.
“Nothing. Why?” he says rather shocked by my accusation.
“You used the sexy voice,” I inform him.
“I can use the sexy voice and not want anything,” he states confidently.
“Really?!” I contest.
“Really,” he says with certainty.
Joe takes the iPad from my hands and places it on the coffee table. He then proceeds to effortlessly shift my body so he can snuggle with me on the couch.
“I want to stay . . .” he begins, caressing my face with his fingers.
“See, I told you,” I present.
“What?”
“You used the sexy voice because you want to stay,” I point out.
“It was a coincidence,” he replies.
“Riiiiight,” I answer. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want to stay?” I explore.
“Because, I want to,” he informs.
“And?”
“And, nothing else. I just want to stay. Please?”
I don’t say anything as I debate internally about the idea of it.
“We could go to my place . . . if that makes you feel better,” he suggests.
Ten minutes later, I have a bag packed and I’m texting Taylor to enjoy the rest of the night. Joe and I make our way to his place, walking with Sadie once we know two of his bodyguards are downstairs and waiting for us.
Eighty One
The whole week after the video announcement, there are a number of comments, both good and not so good, about me and Jared. Most of the women back off with their mean statements about Chris and I dating, but they still make comments insinuating that there’s something wrong with me for not wanting to be with him, which is oddly contrary to their previous statements. There are times when I do eventually get out of the apartment, needing to stretch my legs with Sadie or just to get a change of scenery. The few times I’m spotted, people only ask for my autography or a photo, which I happily agree to because they ask so nicely.