Breathe With Me

by Kristen Proby

  “You feel so good,” I whisper roughly.

  He hasn’t said anything in response to me spilling my guts, which worries me. Maybe he’s not ready to hear about my clingy need to someday live with him? Maybe this is just sex for him and I’m jumping to conclusions?

  Maybe I’m an idiot.

  He begins to move, rhythmically making love to me. One large hand glides up my side to cup my breast, his thumb tweaks over my tender nipple, making me bite my lip. His lips turn up in a half smile as he watches my body’s reaction to his touch.

  “Do you have any idea,” he whispers and brushes his cheek against mine, barely touching me. His stubble tickles me, but makes my body clench even more. “Any idea how often I’ve wondered what it would sound like to hear those words come from you?”

  He shudders and closes his eyes and I brush my fingertips up and down his back. A light sheen of sweat covers his strong body as he begins to move, his pubis pumping against my clit, sending electricity zinging through my body, all the way to my fingertips.

  “Oh my God,” I whisper and close my eyes as he makes love to me, pounding into me while whispering words of love and forever and I can’t take it. It’s just too much. I erupt beneath him, crying out his name as I see stars explode around us.

  “That’s right, baby,” he whispers. He reaches over me and grips his headboard as he thrusts into me harder, his mouth forming an O as he comes hard, jerking over me and watching me with wonder.

  Finally, he scoops me into his arms and rolls us to the other side of the bed, cradling me in his arms.

  “I’ll keep the house and we’ll take it one day at a time. Is that okay?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  He kisses my forehead and suddenly grins. “I guess you’ll have to help me shop for furniture.”

  “I will?”

  He nods and gives me that naughty smile again. “Now that I’ve finally got you to admit that you’ll want to live with me one day, you should have a say in how your house is furnished.”

  “It’s not my house,” I insist quickly with a shake of my head, pushing against his chest.

  He rolls his eyes and pulls me back in his arms effortlessly. “Will you make up your mind? It either is or it isn’t.”

  It so is.

  “It’s your house that I don’t want you to sell.”

  “We’ll work on it.”

  Chapter Ten

  For the first time in as long as I can remember, I don’t want to go to work. I want to stay here, in my bed with my man still sleeping and wrapped around me and pull the covers over our heads and pretend that the rest of the world doesn’t matter.

  But I have a plane to catch and I don’t think Jax ever came home last night.

  Good for Jax.

  My bag is packed and I’m ready to go, so I just lie here and watch Mark sleep for a while, enjoying the way his face is soft in sleep, the whiskers on his cheeks and how messy his hair is.

  Of course, his hair is always messy.

  He rolls onto his back and flings an arm over his head. I’m not stupid. Like I’m going to pass up this opportunity.

  I slide down his body and before my movement can wake him, I take his semi-hard cock on my hand and lick him from the root to the tip in one fluid motion then take him in my mouth, wrap my lips around him and pull up firmly.

  “Holy shit,” he mutters and sinks his hands in my hair. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” I reply with a smile and circle the head of his cock with the tip of my tongue. “You can go back to sleep. I’m just gonna play down here for a little while.”

  He chuckles and then groans when I cup his balls in my hand and massage them while sucking up and down on his now very firm dick. It’s so damn big, almost too big for my mouth, so I lick and kiss and even graze the tip of my teeth down the shaft.

  “Damn, you’re good at that, baby.” His voice is still thick with sleep, his body warm and completely at my mercy.

  Sexy as fuck.

  “I can feel your heartbeat right here,” I say and rub my fingertips over the thick vein on the under side of his dick. “It’s moving a little fast.”

  “I’m sure it is.”

  “Why is that?” I suck on the head and jerk him with my hand as I wait for his answer.

  “Because the sexiest woman alive is sucking me off,” he replies with a growl and pushes his hips off the bed. “Jesus fucking Christ, M, your lips should come with a warning label.”

  I laugh and lick down his shaft to his heavy balls and lick them both, then lick each one in turn while slipping my finger over that super sensitive spot right beneath them.

  “You’re going to make me fucking come.”

  “I think that’s the point,” I say and smile smugly as his legs begin to move restlessly and his hands clench in the sheets at his hips. “Like this, do you?”

  “Just a bit,” he says through gritted teeth. I lick up the shaft and suck on the tip again, knowing he’s close as I pump my fist over him and feel his entire body clench. His balls tighten and lift and suddenly he’s coming in my mouth. I swallow quickly and watch his face as he pants and combs his fingers through my hair.

  “Best way to wake up ever,” he says and laughs as he collapses back on the bed.

  “That was fun,” I say and kiss my way up his body and lie on top of him. “Good morning, handsome.”

  He kisses my forehead and wraps those amazing arms around me, holding me tightly to his chest.

  “When do we have to leave?” he whispers.

  “In about thirty minutes,” I say. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

  “I think that’s the fourth time you’ve asked me that since Friday night,” he says as his fingertips glide up and down my bare back. His heartbeat is beginning to return to normal beneath my cheek.

  “I know. I’d kind of like having you there.”

  “I have to work too. It’s only a few days.” He rolls us on our sides so he can see my face. “I’ll pick you up from the airport on Wednesday.”

  I nod and cup his face in my palm. “I’ll call you whenever I can.”

  “Do your work, enjoy Starla and Jax for a couple days, then come back home to me.”

  I smile widely and lean in to kiss him. I know he’s nervous about me leaving. I’ve felt it from him every time we’ve made love this weekend, in moments when I’ve caught him watching me quietly. I don’t know how to assure him that there is nothing to worry about.

  “Want me to bring you back something?” I grin and sit up, letting the sheet pool in my lap and scrub my hands over my face. “A T-shirt? Coffee mug? Post card?”

  “Just my woman, thanks,” he says as he climbs from the bed and walks naked to the bathroom. Good God it’s not a hardship to watch him walk away in the least. That ass is just… delicious.

  I could bounce a quarter off that ass.

  I blink when I hear the toilet flush and then feel my face heat when he walks back in the room.

  “What were you thinking?”

  “That I could bounce a quarter off your ass.”

  “I thought you liked my arms?”

  “Your ass isn’t half-bad either.” I shrug and climb from the bed, searching for my clothes, avoiding eye contact. For God’s sake, I had the man’s penis in my mouth ten minutes ago, but telling him that I think he has a nice ass makes me shy?

  What the fuck?

  “Come here.” It’s not a request. I drop the shirt and leggings I plan to wear on the plane to the bed and cross to him. He loops his arms around me and hugs me tight, gently rocking back and forth and plants his lips on my head. He takes a deep breath when I press my palms to his back and hold on tight.

  “I like looking at you,” I whisper.

  “Good. I like looking at you too.” He chuckles and kisses my hair then rubs my back soothingly. “Is Jax here?”

  “I don’t know. I never heard him come home.” I cross to the bed and check my pho
ne. “There aren’t any messages from him.”

  Mark and I have just finished pulling on our clothes when I hear the front door burst open.

  “My bags are ready!” Jax calls out on his way past my bedroom to his.

  “He’s home now,” I say and laugh as I jog out into the hallway. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Logan and I… uh… overslept.”

  “Right.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I like him.” I lean my shoulder on his doorjam and cross my arms over my chest as he gathers his toiletries and throws them in a bag. “He’s nice. And he’s hot.”

  “I heard that!” Mark calls from my bedroom, making me laugh.

  “He’s not as hot as you!” I call back.

  “We’re gonna be late,” Jax mumbles and stops in the middle of the room, looking stressed and rushed, with his hair standing on end, stubble still on his cheeks and the clothes that I’m sure he was wearing yesterday.

  “No we’re not. You have time to at least change your clothes. You’re in a relationship with the man, Jax, no need to be doing the whole walk of shame thing.”

  “I’ll shower and change when we get to the hotel.”

  I roll my eyes and walk back to my room. “Thank God it’s only a two hour flight!”

  “I don’t smell!” I hear him loudly sniff his armpit and then mumble under his breath about finding a clean T-shirt.

  Mark is sitting on the edge of my bed checking his phone. He’s also wearing the same clothes from yesterday.

  “Looks like Jax isn’t the only one doing the walk of shame today,” I say with a chuckle. “You should just bring some extra things here for when you stay with me.”

  “You should just move in with me and we won’t have this issue,” he says, still staring down at his phone.

  “I’ll make room for you in my closet,” I reply without acknowledging his suggestion because frankly, I don’t know how in the hell to respond to that.

  “I’ll make room for you in my closet,” he says, still typing furiously on his phone.

  “I’m ready!” Jax says as he hustles past my room, then backtracks and pokes his head around the doorjam. “Hello? Flight? LA? Job? Are you coming?”

  “Yes. Ready, babe?”

  “I’m ready.”

  The drive to the airport is quiet as all three of us are lost in our own thoughts. It’s early enough that traffic isn’t too thick yet and we make it to the airport with plenty of time.

  “You don’t have to pay to park, M. Just pull up at the drop off area.”

  “I’ll go in with you,” he says.

  “It’s a waste of money,” I insist, but he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles gently, making me go all gooey inside.

  “No it’s not. I’m not going to be able to touch you for more than forty-eight hours, Meredith. I’ll take every minute I can now.”

  “Damn, you have it bad, man,” Jax says with a laugh from the back seat earning a grin from Mark.

  “And you don’t?” Mark challenges him.

  Jax shrugs. “I said all my mushy stuff in private this morning.”

  “Aww, you’re mushy?” I squeal and bounce in my seat. “I’ve never seen you be mushy before.”

  “And you won’t see it now,” he replies dryly. Mark parks the Jeep and the guys pull our suitcases out of the back and pull them behind us as we walk into the terminal.

  We print our boarding passes, check our bags, and Jax shakes Mark’s hand. “Thanks for the ride, man. I’ll meet you at the gate, tootsie roll. I don’t want to witness any more of the mush.” He winks and walks away, leaving Mark and me alone.

  “I’ll text you when we get in.”

  “Good. I’ll worry.” He links our fingers on both hands and loops them around my back then leans in and kisses me, not giving a shit who might be watching. Finally he releases one of my hands and cups my neck, his thumb making little circles on my cheek as his lips nibble and make me forget where I am.

  With one kiss, he can completely disarm me.

  “Be safe,” he whispers against my lips.

  “You too,” I reply and brush my fingers through his hair. “I’ll see you soon.”

  He nods and frowns slightly, but then smiles widely, in that naughty way and winks down at me. “I love you, Meredith Agatha.”

  “I love you too. But Jax is gonna die.”

  ***

  “Christ on a cracker, Jax, you’re trying to fucking kill me.” Starla growls before guzzling half a water bottle. I raise my brows at Jax and plant my hands on my hips.

  “I told you.”

  He glares at me and shakes his head. “Trust me, you’ll get it.”

  “Oh, I’ll get it alright,” she agrees. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a sadistic asshole.”

  “I’ve missed you,” I say and wrap my arms around Starla’s shoulders. “I love that you can tell Jax he’s an asshole.”

  “You tell me I’m an asshole all the time,” he reminds me.

  “I’ve missed you guys too. This routine is stellar. Seriously perfect for the song. Thank you for doing this.”

  “It’s all him.” I point to Jax and wink at him. “I’m just his puppet.”

  “You’re a gorgeous puppet,” she says. “I want you guys to come back to my place tonight for dinner and to chat. It’s been too long.”

  “I’m up for that,” I reply. “Thank you!”

  Jax nods and then turns at the sound of his name. Brian Kellogg, the dancer who will be dancing Jax’s part in the routine just came in from taking a phone call.

  “Let’s get back to it,” Starla says.

  ***

  “God, I’m exhausted,” Starla says and exhales deeply. We’re settled in her family room, sprawled over couches and chaise lounges, stuffed with fresh fish and salad.

  “You worked hard today, baby,” her fiancé, Rick, murmurs and kisses her temple. Rick is great. He’s not in the music business at all. He’s a racecar driver, of all things, and they met at a charity function about two years ago. He’s tall and thin and all tattooed up, even on his neck.

  He looks like he could be a rocker.

  “How do you know? You weren’t there.”

  “You always work hard.”

  “You guys are too cute,” I say and smile at them. “How are the wedding plans coming?”

  “I hired a girl,” Starla replies and rolls her blue eyes. Starla is stunning, with chin-length platinum blond hair, smooth white skin and her signature bright red lips. She’s in fantastic shape. She always danced just as hard as the rest of us. Starla isn’t just a singer, she’s one of the top entertainers in the world, and she works her ass off. “I like her ideas and she’s great about checking in with me on stuff, so it’s working for us.”

  “Good.”

  “And you guys are coming,” she says while pointing at us.

  “We wouldn’t miss it,” Jax assures her.

  “How is Brian doing with the shows?” I ask and pick a hangnail on my right hand.

  “He’s fine. He’s a damn good dancer, but he’s no Jax.”

  “He’s a drama queen,” Rick says with a roll of the eyes.

  “Yeah, he is that,” Starla agrees. “But he’s hot and the audience loves him, so as long as he doesn’t piss me off too bad, I’ll keep him around. Until I can talk Jax into coming back, that is.”

  Jax laughs and shakes his head, but Starla isn’t laughing. She sits up straight and leans her elbows on her knees.

  “Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about something.”

  Jax and I share a look and then watch her quietly.

  “Mer, I’m so sorry about your mama. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to the funeral. I was stuck in a blizzard in New York and couldn’t get a flight out.”

  “Oh, Star, it’s okay. Thank you for calling that day. I knew you were thinking of me.”

  She nods and then sighs. “Geez, why am I nervous?”

 
“What’s up, little girl?” Jax asks. He always called her little girl because Starla is so petite.

  “I miss you guys. We toured together for so many years, you’re just a part of this whole family that we have going here. I want you to come back on tour with me next year, and choreograph the whole tour too.”

  “That would mean that I’d have to start working on that as soon as we get back to Seattle,” Jax says in surprise. Starla nods, watching us both.

  “We have a studio now, Star, with clients and kids who depend on us.” I’m shaking my head slowly as the possibilities run through my head.

  “You can hire people to take care of the studio while you’re gone,” she replies. Rick continues to watch us silently. “Think about it. I’ll give you both raises of course. And I’m now offering a benefits package too.”

  “You’re so generous,” Jax says dryly.

  “It’s tax deductible,” she says.

  Do I want to go back on tour? Never knowing what time zone I’m in, not to mention what city. The long hours on planes and buses. The grueling, constant rehearsal. Late nights. Weird sleep patterns.

  No Mark.

  No way.

  I shake my head and look Starla in the eye as I answer her honestly. “Thank you for this opportunity, Star. I’m going to pass. I’ve only got a year or two left in me before I start getting injured from the rigorous routines, and honestly, I’m happy with my life in Seattle.”

  “You met someone,” Rick guesses.

  “I’ve reconnected with someone,” I reply. “And I love him. I’m done touring. But I love that you thought enough of me to ask me back.”

  “Keep in touch,” she says. “I’ll need regular updates on how it’s going with your man.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “I’m going to pass too,” Jax says with a sigh. “I’m happy at the studio, and I have some choreography opportunities with the university dance team as well.”

  “You met someone too, you bitch!” Starla cries and throws a pillow at him.

  “He did,” I say and clap my hands. “And he’s hot.”

  “Why did you all have to leave me and find sexy people to have sex with and not want to come back with me?” She sticks out her lower lip in a pout before burying her face in another pillow. “Moo haff me.”