“I’m pretty sure Leslie is into guys,” Brittany adds like she wants to change the subject. But, I’m not completely sure.”
The two of us laugh when everyone else gathers closer.
Before Joe and I leave, the girls and I swap information and promise to make time for them to visit in the summer.
Ninety Four
I’m in better spirits when we return to the hotel. Who knew that reconnecting with some people from my past would have this effect on me? Contentedness fills my heart as I relax on the hotel bed and stare at the ceiling while I pet Sadie.
The sound of my phone ringing startles me. “Hey, Jared,” I greet warmly.
“I thought you wanted to keep a low profile,” he says oddly.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re in the news again,” he announces.
“For what? I’ve barely been outside,” I challenge.
“They’ve seen you entering the hotel,” Jared shares. “There are pictures of you . . . with Joe.”
“What?!”
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
“I ran into Joe at the hotel. His family apparently owns it,” I explain. “He had a meeting and saw Sadie and me.”
“Oh,” Jared replies. “That makes sense. Well, you’ll need to relocate. The news is right outside the hotel.”
“Shit. Are you kidding me?”
“Nope.”
“Damn it,” I exclaim. “Wait. What are they saying?” I grab the remote and flip through the channels until I see a picture of Joe and me wearing the same clothes we have on now. Pressing the volume button to make the television louder, my ears focus on what’s being said by the news anchor and ignore Jared.
“Sources confirm that Emma Peterson is in fact dating Joseph Covelli, Manhattanite Billionaire and one of New York’s most eligible bachelors. Looks like we now know the reason to why Emma isn’t dating Chris Cooper,” says the blonde, female news anchor.
“That, or was she cheating on Chris with Joseph Covelli the entire time,” say the other female news reporter.
“She did claim that she doesn’t date and Joe wouldn’t share anything during the recent event at Nathaniel’s,” the other news anchor adds.
“Fuck!” I yell, shutting off the television.
“Kitten?”
“Yeah,” I huff.
“Ignore them.”
I don’t care what other people think or say about me, but now that it involves Joe, I’m miffed. I’m not interested in not being able to enjoy my friends with benefits thing with him.
“You can’t stay at the hotel anymore,” Jared comments. “You know that, right?”
“I need to think. I’ll call you back, okay?” I reply, noticing that I’ve been pacing the floor rapidly when I almost trip over Sadie.
“Sure, Kitten,” Jared says. “Just let me know what you plan on doing.”
“Okay.” I hang up the phone without thinking and ponder my options.
“Emma,” Joe says loudly.
“Huh?”
“We need to get you out of here,” Joe announces.
“I’ll just pack and go home,” I blurt nervously.
“They’ll follow you and just make more accusation,” Joe comments. “Why don’t you come and stay with Jimmy and me?”
“Yeah, that’s a great idea,” I reply sarcastically. “Then, their claims that I’ve cheated on Chris with you or that we’re dating will be validated.”
“They won’t know where we’re going,” Joe returns. “There’s an access point for our condo that is underground. They can’t see who comes and goes other than a vehicle.”
I sigh.
“Jimmy and Allen insist that you come,” Joe coaxes. “And, my parents would like to have you over for dinner tonight.”
My head bobs as I consider my options. There’s no way I can take a train back and I’d have to find out when the next charter plane leaves the city.
“I’ll call the desk to check you out and have someone help with the bags while Hunter waits for us in the underground staff parking. We’ll leave and the paparazzi will just think you’re hiding out,” Joe suggests.
I would really like to stay a little longer. The fact that I’m here allows me to see the Nelsons or the girls again at least one more time before leaving.
“Okay,” I agree. “Where will I be sleeping?”
“We’ve got a guest bedroom, but . . .” Joe offers with a smirk.
Twenty minutes later, Joe, Sadie and I meet up with Hunter and Taylor in a black SUV this time instead of the car. I guess they want to either change things up or keep the paparazzi guessing who’s in which vehicle if they see us. The vehicle takes to the roads from a back alley, allowing us to sneak away like a mouse in an underground tunnel.
Jimmy and Allen practically knock me over when I enter their huge loft.
“Emma!” yells Jimmy. “So, are the rumors true?”
I give him a look. “No,” I verify.
“So, why are you in New York?” Allen inquires.
“I had to take care of a few things and was trying to be under the radar,” I sort of lie.
“Well, we’re glad you’re here. Mom and Dad are excited to have you join us for dinner tonight at their place,” Jimmy mentions. “Especially since Joe cancelled his birthday dinner plans.”
“Jimmy,” Joe chides.
I can tell Joe doesn’t want Jimmy asking questions and I think they can see it too and don’t pry any further.
They follow Joe and me into the bedroom that is on the lower level of their two-story loft, chatting away as Joe places my bags on the bed. They eagerly take me on a tour of their home and I happily follow, glad for the distraction from the news earlier. The kitchen, living room and dining room are one large, spacious area with a ceiling that stretches up to the second floor. They have two other large bedrooms, each with a private bath, upstairs that are their rooms along with a home office. Off the kitchen which is partially situated under the second floor, there’s a little hall that I notice.
“What’s back there?” I inquire.
“Laundry and Ana’s room,” Jimmy answers eagerly.
“Oh,” I reply. “Where is she?”
“Running errands,” Joe offers. “You’ll see her soon.”
“So, Emma,” Jimmy probes. “I’m guessing you’re the reason why Joe cancelled his birthday plans.”
“Jimmy,” Joe defends.
“What? It’s a valid question,” he supports.
“We ran into each other at the hotel. He didn’t know I was coming,” I comment. “When he found out what I was doing, he offered some assistance.”
Jimmy and Allen snicker.
“What kind of assistance?” Jimmy pokes.
I glare at him.
“Geez, lighten up,” Jimmy responds. “I’m just kidding.”
“No, you’re not,” Allen remarks.
“When is mom expecting us?” Joe changes the subject.
“Around five,” Jimmy answers.
At four-fifteen, our vehicle pulls into a large, underground parking garage after driving through a tunnel entrance that is wide enough for two cars to pass each other — Joe wanted to give me some time to see the place and to prepare to meet the rest of his family — whatever that means. The cart port is quite expansive, housing five different vehicles with room for about ten more. I find out that this is the family’s private garage. We take the elevator up to the fourth floor of their home. There’s no other family living in the building and the first two floors are for the staff.
A butler announces our arrival and Mr. and Mrs. Covelli happily greet me. I’m grateful that they don’t mention the news or ask about why Joe had cancelled his birthday I don’t doubt that Jimmy will clue them in later. Mrs. Covelli offers a tour and I gladly accept, hoping to avoid any uncomfortable conversations brought on by Jimmy.
Their home is amazing, to say the least. The fourth floor consists
of a grand, main kitchen, a secondary staff kitchen, a living room, sitting room and two different sized dining rooms aside from several bathrooms and a variety of closets. The fifth floor is where Mr. and Mrs. Covelli’s bedroom resides, with a huge balcony, along with John’s and Elaine’s offices that are next to each other, separated only by a glass wall with two large sliding glass doors on either end. They have a master bath and a walk-in closet that are the size of my apartment and two half baths close to their offices. There’s another sitting room on the same floor. The third floor is nothing but more bedrooms, all for the Covelli boys, each with their own personal bathroom along with a living room with game tables, a bar and a floor to ceiling television screen.
Mr. and Mrs. Covelli lead us back up to the fourth floor to the sitting room while we wait for the rest of the family to arrive. At some point, my nerves get to me and I need to use the ladies’ room after my second cup of tea. When I round the corner to rejoin the Covellis, I hear a few more voices to the mix.
“Hi,” a good looking man says, winking at me and flashing a smile. “I’m Thomas.”
Just as I take his hand to shake it, another man jumps in taking my hand first. “Back off, Tom, I saw this vixen first.”
“And, this is Tony,” Joe announces taking my hand before Tony can kiss it. “He still carries cooties. Watch out.”
“Back off little bro,” Tony declares. “I saw her first.”
“You back off,” Jimmy advises. “If anyone saw her first it would be Joe. Besides, Emma doesn’t date.”
“What a coincidence, neither do I,” Tony adds with a sinfully wicked smile.
The Covelli boys do have a way about them aside from their good looks.
“Go away, you vultures. Emma’s too good for either of you. She’s out of your league,” Jimmy claims.
“Don’t smile at them too much. It only encourages them,” Joe comments.
“You’re one to talk,” Jimmy goads.
As we finish making introductions to Sadie, a man, woman and two children enter the room. I recognize them easily from their photos and because the man is a younger version of Mr. Covelli. Upon introductions, my assumption is correct that I’m meeting John Covelli Jr., his wife, Emily, and their two children, Lily and John I.
Lily beams as she’s officially allowed to meet Sadie though her parents are a little apprehensive about the idea — I know it’s because of Sadie’s bread. Joe reassures them it’s fine and Lily takes a spot on the floor with Sadie as the rest of the family trickles in. Emily gravitates toward me, chatting freely as if we’ve been friends for years, as does Charlotte and Isabella, David’s and Daniel’s wives as soon as they arrive.
I find out after finishing our soup that there’s a five-course meal that has been prepared. By the time our entrees are served, Tony breeches a subject I wasn’t expecting.
“So, Emma,” Tony begins. “How long have you and Joe been dating?”
“Excuse me,” I gasp.
“Knock it off, Tony,” Joe asserts.
“Joe and I are friends and business associates,” I comment calmly.
“Right,” Tony replies sarcastically. “You want me to believe that you two aren’t dating.”
“It’s the truth,” Jimmy supports.
“When has Joe ever brought a woman home to meet the family?” Tony presses, looking to everyone in the family around the table.
“That’s true,” David chimes in. “He’s never brought a girl home during high school or college.”
I look to Joe and I can see his cheeks reddening.
“”Boys,” Mrs. Covelli calls. “Leave your brother and Emma alone.”
“Yes, mother,” the say in unison.
Mrs. Covelli immediately poses a question to Charlotte, deflecting the attention away from Joe and me. I don’t really hear their comments as my brain digests what Tony said. Other topics flow in and out through the rest of dinner and well past dessert. I catch a few pieces of conversation, adding a comment or asking a question, but remain mostly quiet unless someone speaks to me directly.
At some point, Joe, Jimmy and Allen take me to the living room on the third floor. The four of us play a game of pool to relax as Jimmy and Allen enjoy a cocktail.
“So, Emma,” Tony says, coming into the room. “What brought you to New York?”
“Some personal and business reasons,” I answer.
“Personal? Like my brother?” he presents.
“No,” I quickly reply.
“Stop trying to hit on her,” Jimmy comments. “You have no chance.”
“She likes it,” Tony remarks, winking at me and then walks over to the bar and makes himself a drink.
I fight to refrain from giggling at his bravado.
“Right,” Jimmy contends, seeming unamused.
Over the course of our next game, Tony throws a few pickup lines at me. Thomas is quick to join us as well, challenging Tony and his attempts at flirting. I refrain from commenting most of the time, but a smile does pop onto my face at their blatant attempts, especially when I see Joe getting irritated. I decide to flirt back at some point — why not have a little fun and amusement, hoping it’ll keep them from asking more questions.
We say goodnight to the family members who haven’t left and head back to Joe’s place with Anna riding with Hunter. When I go to change for bed, I notice that Anna had snuck into my room at some point and unpacked my clothes for me. I take a bath and then curl up on the bed with Sadie while I read a book.
Joe sneaks down to my room. The second I see him, I jump out of the bed and move toward him, seeking a kiss he’s happy to give. My desire for him is obvious, even to him, but he doesn’t do anything other than hold me close and continue to kiss me.
It’s been a while since we’ve had sex and I’m starting to not care if his Jimmy and Allen overhear us. My emotions have distracted me long enough from his gloriously, sexy body and how he uses it to satisfy me beyond description. With the events that have been unfolding the past few days, my brain and body are ready for familiarity.
“I want you,” I confess.
“I want you,” he shares. “But, it’s not safe.”
“I know,” I accept.
He joins me in the bed, snuggling with Sadie and me for a little while.
“Brittany, Leslie, Martin and Celia seemed really happy to see you,” Joe mentions.
“Yeah,” I agree with a smile.
“And, obviously you’re happier now that you did go,” he adds.
“Definitely,” I confirm. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he searches.
“For everything. Being there . . . being here,” I say, sliding my hand down his back and squeezing his ass.
Joe laughs at me while his mouth takes mine and his hand shifts my leg over his hip, pulling me as close as he can get me. Despite my attempt to take his clothes off, Joe fights to keep them on. Our heated embrace continues and when he realizes that I’m not going to give up, several of his fingers caress over my sex.
“Yes,” I moan. My legs part further, allowing him better access.
Joe’s fingers slip behind my panties and circle my nub several times before penetrating me sex. “Shhh,” he instructs.
My teeth capture my bottom lip to stiff my noises as Joe’s lips run along my neck.
“I shouldn’t let you cum,” Joe says after a while, getting me very close.
“Why?” I whine.
“You were naughty,” he chuckles.
“No,” I gulp my objection.
“Yes,” he presents. “You were flirting with my brothers.”
“It . . . meant nothing,” I pant. “I did it . . . to through them off.”
“From what?” he asks, continuing to deny me release.
“From knowing about us,” I confess, whimpering.
“You seemed to enjoy it,” he mentions.
“A little,” I admit. “Only . . . .” I can’t finish my statement when his fingers stop.
“Only?”
“Only . . . because it bothered you,” I share.
“You encouraged them,” he charges.
“I had to be convincing,” I claim. “Or else they, Jimmy and Allen wouldn’t have believed me.”
Joe’s hand resume their task, but deliberately moves so I can’t cum. “Did it turn you on?”
“What?” I whimper, desperate to finish.
“Seeing that it bothered me?” he explores.
“No,” I lie on a huff.
“Naughty,” Joe returns.
“No,” I object.
“You just lied,” he replies. “So, you are being naughty.”
“No,” I pant.
I have to admit, there was a little thrill when I saw the look on his face when I kept encouraging Tony and Thomas to flirt with me. I’m not interested in playing those kinds of games, but it’s nice to confirm how he feels — it validates my suspicion from how he reacted when he saw Chris’ and my hands together at the premier.
“Tell me the truth,” Joe directs with his sexy voice. He wiggles his fingers and then stops.
“A little,” I confess.
Joe’s fingers continue to tease me, but refuse to let me climax.
“Please,” I whimper.
“What?” he chuckles into my neck as he licks it.
“Please,” I groan. “I want to cum.”
“You sure?” he checks with a devilish tone.
“Yes,” I affirm.
Joe’s fingers pause as he suddenly shifts and pins my arms above my head. He laughs at my protest.
“Please,” I beg. “I want to cum . . . for you.”
A moan escapes Joe’s throat at my announcement. “You better soak my hand.”
“Yes,” I agree, feeling it surfacing inside.
My face turns to the right and my mouth pushes into my arm, desperate to contain the noises rising in volume from my throat. My lungs suck in sharply as the orgasm pours into me from Joe’s teeth tightening on my left nipple. I swear I can hear him chuckle as my body spasms from the euphoria.
“Good girl,” Joe praises as he sucks his fingers. He makes me watch him get every last drop, not offering any to me. His mouth jumps to my sex, slurping up my leftover juices.
“Fuck me,” I beg after his mouth travels up my body.
Just Breathe Series (Trilogy Box Set) Page 89