Hold Your Breath Novel Novels & Stories

"You—what the hell—" "You don't have to say it," Anne interrupted, her voice quiet now. "You just have to think about it." And just like that, the memory came back with perfect clarity. The nurses office, Victor's shadow falling long across my shoes, his voice dipped just below casual. "Why are you still breathing?" No threats. No weapons. Just the kind of smile you'd use when talking about favorite TV shows. I looked at Anne, and she was watching me the way someone watches a fuse burn down.

Too distant. The rustling grew louder, closer now. I held my breath, my body tense, fingers clutching at the dirt beneath me. Were they coming toward me? Were they about to find me? I didn’t dare move. And then, the voices stopped. It stopped. And I waited. The forest held its breath, the world paused. But I had no idea what was to come next. I hold my breath, the ground beneath me cold and hard as I press deeper into the shadows, my back flat against the earth.

I hold my breath halfway, afraid that he will catch me if I will breath out loud. I want to get out of here. Come home, Lorenzo. Please. I hope secretly while I also hope for the mysteriously sick man lurking outside the room. I can't even call anyone. My phone is still in my room and I regret it now. I let out a deep breath I was holding from so long because I probably would have died if I didn't exhaled now. But maybe that was my mistake. Because the breath came out louder than necessary. I slap my hands on my mouth in hope to redo my actions somehow.

I asked. She didn't answer, but she smiled to herself, as if she knew some secret that she was keeping from me. Like I said, I hated it when she did that. The next night we talked about her books. "Why do you always carry it with you?" I asked. Now, I assumed she carried the book around simply because she was the teacher's daughter. It wasn't that big of an assumption, given how Madon felt about literature and all. But the Book she carried was old and the cover was kind of ratty looking, and I figured that she'd be the kind of person who would buy a new one every year or so just to help out the Books publishing industry or to show her renewed dedication to the studies or something.

They float in a growing swarm suspended in the warm winter air. Suddenly, Sera jumps halfway up in bed. The spell breaks, causing them to scatter. Her eyes dart around the room. With a sigh, she rolls over clutching her blanket against her chest. The night returns to normal. After a few minutes, Sera's breathing evens out. Nathanael wanders over to her bed again. She stopped at the touch of his hand. This keeps getting even more curious. He attempts to touch her again.

His nose traced my neck and I stilled at the claiming touch. “Don’t you dare!” I whispered. I felt him smile, “Then don’t test me Val.” “You wouldn't.” He hummed on my neck, “Would I?” Would he? The thought made me pause. Eric would be furious. I doubted Justin would claim me as he would have to face Eric. I let out my breath relaxing into his hold. “I won’t forget this.” I growled to him under my breath. “Oh I hope you don’t.” I forced my gaze back to Tamara and Eric. I was aware of Justin’s breath on my neck as he still kept me in his hold.

I close my eyes as I breathe her in, filling my lungs with her heavenly scent. I’m about to pull away when I feel her small hands on my chest, and I freeze with my lips still against her forehead. She hesitantly runs her hands up my chest to connect behind my neck, and my lungs start to burn as I realize that I had been holding my breath.

“Then why can’t I breathe when you look at me?” The question caught me off guard. For a second, I forgot to answer. Because I didn’t have one that wouldn’t damn us both. Instead, I said nothing. My thumb moved in a slow, unconscious stroke against her pulse. Her heartbeat jumped beneath my skin, fast, erratic, alive. Her hand trembled once, and then to my surprise she didn’t pull away. She let me hold her. Just for a moment. I didn’t trust myself to move. The world outside felt far away, the night too quiet, the air too fragile to disturb.

Genevieve’s POV I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until the ache in my chest turned to something sharp something that made my vision blur and my knees threaten to buckle. The air rushed back into my lungs all at once, harsh and cold, like I'd surfaced from drowning.

“Hold your breath.” I blink. “What?” My voice rasps. “Hold. Your. Breath.” His finger teases my soaked entrance, and I suck in a breath before I can think. In one stroke, he buries two fingers inside my aching cunt. “ohh…fuck…” My voice cries, and he releases a satisfied hum, fingers curling almost immediately, like he's trying to fetch my soul. My eyes mist over, and I tug hard at my restraints. “Look at me.” His command makes me clench, but I force my eyes shut.