Breath Caught Novels & Stories

I breat hed in deep. I was caught.

“Can I complete my morning kiss?” My breath caught in my throat. “Don’t you dare…” And I took a step back.

Taken in for questioning. My breath caught.

, I hissed under my breath, finally letting go of the air I didn’t know I had been holding. Sure, this seemed too good to be true. One side of my brain screamed at me that this was probably a trap, but the journalist side ignored vehemently. This was exactly what I needed. I’d be damned if I let anything stop me from getting this promotion.

I jolted, my breath snagging in my throat. “Hey.” That voice... My chest tightened instantly.

It was deathly silent, with only the sound of my thumping heart filling my ears. “Breathe” Lupus whispered. I sucked in a sharp intake of air, unaware that I had been holding my breath.

I whisper. “You should.” His voice is low. Not cold this time. Not mocking. Just steady. “You’ll get sick.” I can’t look at him. Can’t breathe right. My body pulses with heat, my thoughts spiraling out of control. “You’re not supposed to be in here,” I choke out, voice cracking. “I locked the door. I—” My breath catches. I locked it. I know I did. I whirl around, eyes wide. “How the hell did you get in?” My voice rises, sharp and cracking with panic.

My breathing stopped. Hickeys.

My breath caught in my throat as I slowly lifted my head. And the moment I did, every part of me went completely still.

And my body betrayed me. A single, sharp intake of breath. It was small, a tiny hitch in the rhythm of my breathing, but it was there. It was not a sound. It was not a moan. It was a reflex, a spasm of muscle and nerve that my mind had not authorized. I caught it instantly, clamping my mouth shut, forcing the air back out slowly, silently. I went rigid, my entire being focused on erasing the moment, on retracting the response. But it was too late.