Just Breathe Trilogy Box Set (85 page)

“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.”

“I’ll let you tie me up when you come back,” I offer.

“Tempting,” he baits.

“I’ll be waiting . . . naked if you’d like,” I suggest.

“Hmmmm,” he hums. “I love undressing you.”

“You can stay the night,” I present.

Joe’s hand glides over my sex and I whimper instantly. “Promise?”

“Yes,” I pant, enjoying how he’s getting me riled up.

“I’ll be back in about an hour,” he hums into my ear. Joe spins me around, running his hands all over my body as our mouths unite. With a groan, he pulls himself away and heads toward the front door. A few seconds later, he spins and heads to my bedroom with a smirk.

I follow Joe, not sure what he’s doing, catching him when he’s walking away from the left side of my bed.

With a smile, Joe says holding up a bag, “Insurance.”

“For what?” I challenge.

“To make sure you’re good,” he retorts.

I’m not happy with the fact that he’s taking B.O.B., Master P and all their friends hostage.

“I still have hands,” I counter snidely.

Joe’s hand clips my rear when he’s close. Our bodies are flush and our noses are within a few inches of each other’s. “You better be naked when I get back,” Joe instructs.

“Not a single article,” I ask. “What about heels?”

Joe sucks in a breath as he weighs the option. “Only my shirt from the wedding. Nothing else.”

“Yes, sir,” I confirm.

“I’ll text you when I’m on my way up,” he mentions. “You better be on the bed.”

“What position?” I inquire.

Joe’s grin widens. “Sitting up against the pillows with your knees bent and legs apart.”

“Anything else, sir?” I check.

“I’ll know if you touch yourself, especially if you make yourself cum. If you do, you’ll be punished,” he explains.

“Should I freshen up for you?”

“No,” he replies. Joe steps in, taking my lips with his.

Once Joe leaves, I rush to the closet to change. The dress is at Nathaniel’s waiting for the public viewing of all of the garments, so it takes me a little longer to remove my clothes. I get my large memory box out and place it on the floor. Sadie sits by as I take out Joe’s dress shirt that I’ve kept since Maggie’s wedding. Joe wanted me to keep it as a souvenir from the first time we had sex together. I wanted to keep it too, but I didn’t dare tell him that. I haven’t washed it since then and the smell of him, of us, on it fills my nose before I lift it all the way up to my face. I shrug the shirt on, leaving it unbuttoned. The other objects in the box tempt me to reminisce, but I resist the urge, not wanting to spoil the night with past memories.

Grabbing my iPad, I peruse social media to see the news about tonight’s event. The majority of the posts are about Nathan and his artistic ability, with a few here and there mentioning me. Oddly, there are a lot of women commenting about Joe, and there are even people suggesting that he’s gay like Jimmy.

I jump when my phone goes off, indicating that Joe is on his way up to my apartment. Rushing to the foyer, I wait to buzz him in and unlock the door. The bed bounces a little when I jump on it, getting into position and Sadie curls up next to me a few seconds before I hear the sound of the door opening.

Joe strides into my room wearing the same clothes he left in and an amused expression. “You ready?” he checks as he reaches the foot of the bed.

Biting my lip, I offer, “I’m ready for my punishment.”

He moves closer, delivering his lips to mine with supple force, sliding his tongue in several times before pulling away with my bottom lip between his teeth. His mouth moves to my neck, gradually moving south to my belly prior to teasing my sex. My fingers grip his hair as his mouth stimulates my nub and his fingers massage my mounds. He builds me up, getting me close several times, but denies me release.

Joe pulls away, yanking on my ankles to move me closer to him. He guides me to be on my hands and knees with my feet hanging over the edge of the bed. A shiver scatters through my body when he lifts the shirt over my ass, exposing my cheeks. His hands caress my skin, teasing me with the anticipation of my punishment. The first blow comes unexpectedly, forcing a yelp from my throat. My body shakes at the sudden feeling of his soft, wet lips on the spot that stings.

“More?” Joe inquires.

“Yes,” my voice shakes.

His fingers trail across each cheek several times before the next slap is administered. Moisture drips past my lips and tickles as it runs down the inside of my leg. When it reaches the middle of my thigh, Joe’s tongue traces the path from where it fell and then slurps up the excess.

I impatiently wait as I listen to the sound of him undressing. Desperate for some attention, my ass waves in the air. A giggle erupts when I illicit the very thing I wanted — his hand smacking me again. When I don’t hear or feel anything for several seconds, I shift to sit and face him.

“Turn back around,” he directs.

“No,” I challenge.

Joe takes a controlled breath in and raises a brow. I bite my lip as my knees dance in the air.

“If you want to cum at any point tonight,” Joe begins. “You better turn your sexy, little ass around, beautiful.”

“Promise?” I question playfully.

Joe’s eyes narrow and I quickly comply, catching the severity in his gaze. He taunts me, dancing his fingers across my skin as he nips at each cheek several times. Finally, my ass sweetly stings from his slap. Right as I suck in some air, he strikes me again on the other cheek. My fingers curl into the blankets below me when a third slap is delivered. Joe’s tongue returns to my flesh, cooling the skin that still burns slightly from his pleasurable assault.

My ass tingles as it brushes against the blankets when Joe flips me onto my back. He climbs over me, kissing my body as he moves up until he stops at my breasts. His teeth clamp down on each of my nipples several times with the right amount of pressure to make me squeal. When our mouths converge, Joe laces his fingers with mine and restrains them over my head. He angles himself at the edge of my sex, teasing us both before sliding all the way in. The stroke of his cock tantalizes each sensitive spot inside me. He purposefully brings me close, but denies me the pleasure of an orgasm two times before my body is so overly stimulated that it erupts from the slightest of movement. Joe stays inside, thrusting until another release rounds quickly.

Keeping us connected, Joe asks, “
Bunny style
?”

“Please,” I whimper, excited by the idea.

Joe flips me over and I get into position on my hands and knees. He steadies our bodies before placing his cock at my entrance. Cautiously, Joe penetrates my cave, slipping in just a little before pulling back out. I groan with excitement and enjoyment of the sensation. The next thrust in, Joe buries his cock a little deeper before sliding back. On the third entrance of my sex, Joe’s penis is fully inside me. It takes him several more times to build up to a comfortable rhythm as he holds firmly onto my hips. My arms begin to shake as the momentum builds and my body lowers, planting the side of my face against the bed. Joe leans into my back, draping over me as his hand reaches around and plays with my clitoris. The angle at which his cock is stroking my mounds brings on a thunderous climax that echoes from deep inside me, making my throat sore by the end of it. I can feel Joe’s heightened arousal when his penis hardens, penetrating my already hypersensitive folds and within seconds, forcing another orgasm to splash through my body. Joe’s pace quickly slows and lengthens, signaling that he’s found his own pleasure.

“You are so fucking sexy,” Joe says as we cuddle.

With a smirk, I admit, “You’re not so bad yourself.”

“I liked it,” he confesses.

“Of course you did,” I verify. “I think you came just as hard as I did.”

Laughing, Joe explains, “Yes, but I meant when you were teasing me at the event.”

“Oh,” I reply.

“I kept trying to think of something dirty to write back, but I couldn’t with so many people around,” he reveals.

“Do I get to spank you if you do write anything?” I ask sinfully.

“Sure,” he agrees.

“What about tying you up?” I check.

“That too,” he confirms.

The next couple of days after Nathan’s private event zoom by and Halloween approaches rapidly with it suddenly just one day away. Jimmy and Allen stayed on the West Coast to join us for the party. This year, we’re attending Ayana’s annual Halloween Bash which is invitation only. We were invited last year by Caleb, but we stayed with our usual routine of hanging out in WeHo bar hopping like — as our tradition. This year, with all of the paparazzi and crowds, Ayana’s is the most logical option. Aside from the event being an invite-only party, there will be additional security for all of the celebrities who attend.

My friends and I meet up at Nathaniel’s to finish getting ready, planning to arrive together. Our bodyguards collaborate in advance to assign inside and outside watches Each man who will be monitoring the exterior of the building will be dressed in their usual attire, whereas those who will be inside will be dressed up like characters from
Men In Black
.

When we arrive, I watch through the tinted window of my ride at the paparazzi who are having a field day as each car pulls up to let out its passengers. Many of the guests are dressed up so well that it’s hard to identify who they are.

An endless sea of camera flashes sparkle across my line of vision as I step out onto the red carpet and follow Jared and Nathan into the club. We’re greeted by Molly who is dressed as a burlesque vixen, with her breasts pumped up as high as they can go without showing any nipple. The furniture has been rearranged with a few sofas and chairs along the walls and the usual dining tables have been removed and replaced with round, standing bar tables. There’s a band already playing on the stage and the decor of the room is that of an old burlesque style theater.

Servers walk around with the old, wooden box serving trays, carrying food and drinks as people chat or dance. My friends and I scan the place, sharing which celebrities we recognize, who has the best costume and other incidentals.

“Glad you could make it,” Caleb greets with his lips brushing against my left ear.

“Thanks for inviting us,” I return.

Caleb slips his hand on my hip, but it’s not as intrusive a gesture as it has been in the past. Looking to everyone at the table, Caleb mentions, “Make sure you all enter for the contests. We do have a category for best-dressed group.” He welcomes everyone and is very kind to Joe, Jimmy and Allen.

I’ve never seen Caleb chat so freely with men before, men he doesn’t already regularly socialize with, and I speculate at his actions. There are usually only movie stars and athletes who come into the club.

“I hope you save a dance for me,” Caleb comments, taking my hand and kissing it.

His gentlemanly mannerisms are perplexing me.

“I’ll consider it,” I tease.

“Have fun and I’ll see you all around,” Caleb announces before walking away.

Maggie drags me out onto the dance floor not long after everyone settles into our seats. Jared, Nathan, Jimmy and Allen join us, but Henry and Joe keep a little distance at first. When a slow song comes on, Henry snatches up Maggie. I turn to see who’s back at the table and lock eyes with Joe. Two seconds later, Chris is standing in front of me.

“Hi,” he greets with a huge smile.

“Hi.”

“Can I have this dance?” he requests sweetly, reaching his hand out for mine.

“Sure,” I agree.

“I’m glad you guys came. I was hoping to see everyone . . . especially you,” Chris states.

“Chris . . .” I start, but he cuts me off.

“I know, I know. Just friends,” he retorts. “I can still be glad to see you, even as a friend, can’t I?”

“Sure,” I accept nervously.

“Hey, Emma,” someone says behind me.

Chris spins us and my eyes fall upon Marcus.

“Hi,” I reply. “It’s so nice to see you.” I break my connection with Chris, which he willingly allows, and move to hug Marcus. “How have you been?”

“Great, thanks,” Marcus answers. “I wanted to make sure I got a chance to see you.”

“Wonderful.”

“I saw some of your friends, but haven’t had the chance to say
hi
to all of them,” he mentions. “I did see Maggie, Jared and Nathan, though.”

“I can make sure you connect with everyone else later if you don’t before then,” I offer.

“That would be great,” he replies. “I’ll let you two go. Don’t want to keep you from dancing. Can I get one later?”

“Why not,” I accept.

“Awesome. See you later,” Marcus says, walking away.

“See yah.”

A little later in the night, I’m able to introduce Marcus to Jimmy and Allen who stopped to take a break from dancing. Chris joins us, adding some additional liveliness to our conversation. Molly pops into view, offering me another glass of champagne before I’m even finished with the one I have in hand. She’s rather insistent and I tease her about trying to get me drunk and naked. Molly smiles, but confesses that that is not her intent as her eyes bounce down to the napkin she’s holding out for me to take. My brain doesn’t register what she’s doing until I gulp the rest of my glass and glance down at the napkin — there’s writing on it. Molly folds the napkin over just as I take it and then hands me another glass, winking as she walks away.

As my companions talk, I discretely open the napkin a little to see what’s written. The note says:

12:01

VIP room sessanta nove

xoxo

There’s no name.

My head snaps up and I scan the crowd for Molly, but she’s nowhere to be found. I check my phone and the time reads eleven fifty-five. I’ve got six minutes to find the sixty-ninth VIP room. Wait! There aren’t that many VIP rooms to begin within this building. Where is she sending me?

I start walking around the main area in search of Molly. The low lighting of the place doesn’t help to spot people beyond a distance than about fifty feet in front of me. The place is filled with guests, more than there usually are even on a busy night for the club.

I check my phone and notice that the time is now eleven fifty-eight. The sight of the back of a woman who looks like Molly going up the stairs catches my attention and I’m quick to follow.

“Molly!” I shout, trying to make my way through the bodies standing on either side of the staircase. “Molly!”

There are a slew of people down the entire length of the narrow hallway when I reach the top area containing the VIP rooms. My eyes scan each door that I pass while trying to avoid bumping into people. Each room’s regular sign has been replaced with a burlesque style label. After reading the third one, I realize that each of them are labeled with a lewd phrase written in Italian. I can’t help but laugh.

When I come to the end of the hallway, I have not found VIP
sessanta nove.
There are no more VIP rooms that I’m aware of as I hit the end of the hallway, however, a light coming from the left catches my attention. I peek around the corner to find a shallow hall that I hadn’t ever noticed before. There are two doors; one right in front of me that is marked
stage
right
and the other marked
sessanta nove
.

My hand hovers above the door handle, unsure if I should enter or not. I quickly check my phone and it’s two minutes after midnight. Damn —- I’m late for the first time in my life.

I take a few deep breaths as I look over my shoulder to see if anyone is watching me — I’m the only person in this little nook. Before my head turns to face the door, my hand presses down and pushes it open.

Something snatches my wrist as I take one step into the dark room that is only lit by a few faint red lights. “Took you long enough, beautiful,” Joe says in the sexy voice. He takes my mouth with his.

“Sorry I’m late,” I mention, keeping my lips glued to his.

“I should spank you for it,” he comments, grabbing my ass and sandwiching me between him and a wall.

“I’m wet just from the threat,” I confess.

Joe growls as his tongue dives deeper into my mouth. One of his hands traces over my sex eager to validate my statement. “How many times should I spank you?”

“As many as you feel I deserve,” I return.

“Maybe I should only spank you and not let you cum as I had planned,” he decrees.

“No,” I whimper.

“You don’t like the sound of that?” he muses.

“No,” I confirm a little more confidently. “You didn’t really provided detailed instructions on how to get here.”

“Maybe I should go easy on you, then,” he says. “For my oversight.”

“If you think that’s best,” I breathe out.

Joe laughs at my playfulness.

“Maybe,” I begin. “I should spank you.”

“Why is that?”

“For your oversight,” I tease.

“Mmmmm,” Joe hums into my mouth.

“Does that turn you on?” I check.

Joe presses his groin into me. “The idea of you touching me anywhere turns me on,” he professes.

“Really?” I say more than question.

“The way you look at me, or don’t look at me, turns me on,” Joe adds.

I giggle at his statement since he feels the same way I do.

“You have been naughty,” he announces.

“How so?”

“Avoiding me a few times this past week,” he says.

“I haven’t avoided,” I challenge.

“You haven’t slept over either,” he counters.

“You’ve had family over. Besides, if I stay too much, you’ll get tired of me,” I mention.

“Hardly,” Joe rebuts.

“Yes, it is quite hard right now,” I present.

“I’m always hard for you,” he admits.

“You’ll spoil a girl with words like that,” I say.

“That’s the plan,” he reveals.

Needing him inside me, I rush to remove his pants. Once we’ve got most of our costumes removed, which was a little bit of a feat, Joe rolls on the condom and fucks me against the wall. Already wound up, it doesn’t take long for Joe to provide me two orgasms. He finishes with me during my last peak.

Joe helps me get dressed back into my costume and double checks my appearance before clearing me to leave. We kiss a few times and then I’m out of the room, leaving him half dressed as he insists.

I find Maggie and Henry on the dance floor and join them. After some time, Jimmy and Allen come over with Jared and Nathan. A slow song comes on and Marcus finds me, wanting to make good on my promise. He’s very light on his feet and a joy to dance with. As the night wears on, I’m stuck dancing with Caleb, but at least he’s a gentleman the whole time.

My heart sinks a little as the evening starts to come to an end and I didn’t get the chance to dance with Joe. I seek out a chair off to the side to relax and sulk a little, but right as I’m about to lower my ass to the cushion, I feel a warm hand tug on my arm.

“Dance with me,” Joe requests.

Without hesitation, I follow his lead to the floor where practically everyone is dancing. He takes us to the left side where there’s less light and a little more room.

Halfway through the song, Joe whispers, “Happy Birthday.”

“It’s not my birthday,” I inform him.

“Twenty-nine more days to figure it out,” he confesses.

“How do you know it’s in November?”

“I was able to get a little birdie to tell me which month,” Joe reveals. “And, you just confirmed it.”

“Maggie,” I mumble.

“How do you know it was her?”

I give Joe a look, but he doesn’t confirm whether it was her or not.

“So, which day is it?” he searches.

“I’m not telling,” I state calmly.

“I’ll figure it out . . . in time,” Joe says confidently.

I don’t argue — it’s pointless with him.

“Can I sneak over tonight?”

“No,” I object.

“I was hoping to do a little role playing with these costumes,” Joe mentions.

I bite my lip, doing my best to avoid the temptation.

“Maybe I’ll bring it to Oregon,” he says.

“Why?”

Joe laughs. “Just in case.”

“That won’t happen,” I answer.

“Why not?”

“Maggie and I are sharing a room, remember?” I remind.

“Damn,” Joe huffs.

After our dance, Joe and I find Jimmy and Allen and join them. About fifteen minutes later, the rest of my friends and family gather around. We chat for a little bit and then head back to Nathaniel’s around two-thirty in the morning.