by Fiala, PJ
Barbara smirked as she got out of her chair. She walked to the door and looked over at Joci. “As soon as you pump out a kid, you’ll be out on your ass.”
With that, she walked out. Jeremiah picked up the phone and barked at someone on the other end. “Barbara’s on her way down. Make sure she doesn’t grab anything, and make sure she walks straight out the door.”
He hung up and walked over to hug Joci. “I’m sorry you had to endure that. She’s a crass bitch. Always has been.”
Joci was kind of numb. She didn’t say anything. She just stood there with her eyes closed.
“Hey, you know that isn’t true. I do want us to have a baby. But, I want us to be married first. Barbara got pregnant by accident. I love my boys, but she’s not the person I would have chosen to be their mother.”
Joci really didn’t think anything of that comment. She knew Barbara was just pissed and trying to hurt them. But she couldn’t get over the fact that LuAnn looked so much like her.
“Hey. Hey, Joci, look at me.”
Joci looked up at Jeremiah. The tears welled up in her eyes. Dammit, she didn’t want to cry.
“No, baby, no. Don’t let that bitch make you cry. Honey, it’s not true.”
Joci composed herself and swallowed. “It’s not her comment as much as it is how she looks. LuAnn looks just like her. Clearly you like that kind of look. I don’t look anything like them.”
“I’ve already told you, honey. When I hooked up with Barbara twenty-seven years ago, I just wanted to get laid. I know that’s crude, but that’s what it was. She looked like someone who wouldn’t want anything more than that. I told you, no commitments, just fucking. LuAnn started dressing like Barbara after she met her the first time. I don’t know if she thinks that’s a great look or what. What I like is this beautiful woman standing right here in front of me, with sandy brown hair and eyes like a stormy sky. I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Joci wiped her eyes and looked at Jeremiah. “I’m sorry.” She was smiling at him now.
Jeremiah kissed the top of her head and hugged her close again. After a few moments, he pulled back from her. “Are you okay?”
Joci nodded. “I’m good. Are you okay?”
Jeremiah nodded and smiled. “The best part about Barbara coming around is that it’s usually only once a year. We won’t have to see her for another year now.”
Joci giggled at that comment.
“Okay, come on. I was just reading the menu the restaurant emailed over today. Let’s get this ironed out and go out and grab some lunch.”
They finished up the plans for the staff party. The menu was set, the DJ was selected, and the gifts were taken care of. Jeremiah gave each employee a bonus each year, based on his or her performance and the shop’s numbers. This year, the bonuses were very, very nice. He had also put a little extra in the checks for Deacon, Gunnar, JT, and Ryder’s checks for all of the additional work they had done on the Veteran’s Ride.
Joci and Jeremiah decided to head on over to Doxby’s for lunch. They ordered their meals, and while they waited, Jeremiah took a deep breath.
“Joci, don’t make any plans this weekend. I just want to spend the weekend alone with you. Just the two of us. Maybe we’ll tell everyone were going somewhere so they don’t come over.”
Joci looked at Jeremiah and cocked her head to the side.
“Okay. That sounds really fantastic.”
“We work so much during the summer. Since before the Veteran’s Ride, it’s been non-stop. We do the rides every Wednesday. We had the staff ride a few weeks ago. We’ve been working on family stuff, moving you, had our weekend with my buddies, taking care of our businesses. Let’s just tuck in at home and hide.”
Joci smiled. That sounded fabulous. She turned her full dimpled smile on to Jeremiah and said, “I would love that.”
“Great. I was worried you wouldn’t want to. Let’s take Friday off, too. Three days, just us.”
Joci laughed. “You can see how hard it was to talk me into it. I’m looking forward to not having to share you with anyone for a few days.”
They finished lunch, and Joci rode home with a smile on her face. Three whole days alone with Jeremiah. It sounded too good to be true.
Chapter 26
Eating In
Friday morning came. Jeremiah and Joci were lying in bed, enjoying a cup of coffee, when Jeremiah looked over at Joci and said, “Today, no clothes. Just you and me naked all day, okay.”
Joci laughed. “Really? What if someone comes over?”
“No one’s coming over. The boys think we flew out this morning for a weekend getaway, and everyone else is busy with their own lives. It’s just us, alone here, all weekend.” He leaned over and touched his lips to hers.
Joci hummed as he kissed her. His lips felt so good against hers. When he pulled away, she looked into his eyes and said, “Okay. No clothes.”
Jeremiah smirked. “Okay, now stay right here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He slid out of bed and walked out to the kitchen.
Joci watched him until she couldn’t see him any longer. Great view—his ass was perfect. She reached over for her coffee cup and took a sip, leaned back into the headboard, and closed her eyes. She could hear dishes being brought out of the cupboard, silverware, the microwave, more clanging. What on earth was he doing?
Just as Joci finished her coffee, Jeremiah walked back into the room holding a tray piled with dishes and pastries, cheeses, butter, the coffee pot, and silverware.
“Breakfast in bed.” He winked at her, and her tummy flipped. After all these months, he could still do that to her.
He slid in beside her and set the tray between them. They refilled their coffee cups and started eating. He had her favorite cream cheese Danish from the little bakery around the corner along with cubed cheeses and sliced strawberries.
“When did you find the time to pick this up?” she said around a bite of food.
“On my way home last night. I left work a little early so I could shop. Wait ‘til you see what I got us for dinner tonight.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Wow, Jeremiah. You’re going to spoil me rotten. Then I’m going to be awful to live with.”
“I doubt that, babe. I want to spoil you.”
Joci finished her Danish and noticed that Jeremiah wasn’t eating anything. She frowned at him, her eyebrows dropping down. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you hungry?”
He turned slightly to face her, his eyes hungry. “When you’re finished eating, I’ll eat. Off of you.”
Joci froze as what he said registered. Then a smile grew across her face, so big it nearly flattened him. “Really?”
Jeremiah picked the tray off the bed and set it on the nightstand beside him. He grabbed a plate with a cut-up Danish on it and set it down next to Joci. “Roll over onto your tummy.”
Joci rolled over, resting on her elbows. “Down, all the way. Lie flat on the bed, hands above your head.”
She moved the pillow and did as he asked. Jeremiah began placing little pieces of the cut-up Danish down the center of her back, on her butt cheeks, down the seam of her butt, tucking a few at the juncture of her thighs. He moved to straddle her legs and began kissing her shoulders. He kissed the back of her neck, licking and nipping. He moved down and snagged a piece of Danish and ate it while he continued pressing kisses down her back. He kissed and nibbled all the way down to her ass, nipping and biting as he did. The lower he got, the more aggressive his kissing became.
Joci hummed at the feeling. His tongue was amazing, his lips even better.
He started eating the Danish from the seam of her butt, licking and dipping his tongue in as far as he could go. A sigh escaped Joci’s lips as he continued this sweet assault on her body. She was so wet and aroused from his sensual meal.
After he had eaten the last bite from deep between her thighs, he lifted slightly and with a voice husky with desire, he said, “Roll over baby. I�
��m still hungry.”
Joci rolled over and the look in his beautiful green eyes was a sight to behold. He began placing sliced strawberries across her chest, on her nipples, between her breasts, down the center of her tummy. As he got lower, his nostrils flared as he looked at her, “So fucking beautiful.”
He placed two slices of strawberry over her clit and took a whole strawberry and gently placed it between the lips of her pussy. He leaned forward and kissed her lips, gently. He licked across her bottom lip and pulled it into his mouth and sucked on it. Joci slid her hands into his hair and held his head.
“Jeremiah. Holy shit, this is…it’s great but, I need you.”
“You have me, Joci. Always.” He kissed her neck, across the top of her chest, eating his strawberries and licking and nipping at her skin as he went. When he got to her nipples, he placed his mouth over her breast and sucked the strawberry and her nipple into his mouth. Sucking and pulling and teasing her until she began squirming.
“Don’t knock my breakfast off, Joci.”
She blew out a breath and tried calming herself.
He did the same to her other breast as she moaned. He smiled against her skin as he continued to kiss and eat his way down her tummy. Finally, he made it to her clit. He ate the strawberry slices off her clit and sucked it into his mouth. He was still straddling her, so she couldn’t open her legs and let him in. He sucked her clit into his mouth and flicked his tongue over it, sending delicious sensations through her body. Her skin became clammy and her breathing heavy as he pulled away and slid down her legs. He pulled her knees up and gently spread her legs open to him.
“Now this...this is a sight to behold.” Before she could say anything, he dipped down and sucked the strawberry from her opening. As he chewed, he slid two fingers into her channel and smiled up at her. “Joci, you’re so wet, baby. I think you like feeding me breakfast.”
“Jeremiah. Please.” He chuckled as he swiped his tongue down the seam of her pussy and began moving his fingers. Joci whimpered as her orgasm flamed across her skin, pooling low and causing her to throb. Jeremiah sucked her clit into his mouth and Joci exploded.
He pulled his fingers out and thrust his tongue inside to taste her. He continued to lap at her until her orgasm subsided. He crawled back up her body as he said, “That was the best breakfast I’ve ever had. Now, dessert.”
He swiftly plunged into her and began riding her hard. Joci slammed her hands into his hair and wrapped her legs around his waist and rode with him. Too soon, Jeremiah thrust hard into her and Joci cried out his name as he released himself into her. He held himself inside of her for long moments, letting his heart slow. “Jesus. What you do to me is mind-blowing.”
Chapter 27
The Future
They spent the day lounging in bed, watching movies and talking. Around five o’clock, Jeremiah said, “Okay, we have a problem here.”
Joci looked across the sofa where he was sitting and frowned. “We do?”
“Yeah. I wanted to grill dinner and forgot about that when I issued the no clothing rule. I’m not afraid for people to see me naked, but I don’t want the neighbors calling the cops on me. So, just for dinner, we can wear clothes. Okay.”
Joci scrunched her face, “I don’t know. A rule is a rule.”
Jeremiah jumped on her and began tickling her. “My rules, so I can change them.”
Joci was squealing, “Okay. Okay.”
Jeremiah kissed her lightly on the lips and stood up. He reached his hand down for her and pulled her to him. “I loved spending the day with you.”
Joci smiled up at him. “I loved spending the day with you, too. I’m going to get dressed.”
An hour and a half later, Joci walked out of the bathroom, ready for dinner. She was wearing a white sundress, no shoes. Jeremiah walked over to her and spun her around.
“You look so beautiful.”
Joci hugged him to her and kissed his temple.
“You look pretty hot yourself.”
He did look hot. He was wearing light tan khaki shorts and a light green shirt, which made his eyes look even more amazing than usual.
“Ready?”
Joci nodded. Jeremiah held out his arm for her with a grin on his face. Joci wrapped her arm through his, and they walked out the patio doors where a table had been set with candles all around the table and all over the patio. It was beautiful. Joci was mesmerized.
She looked up at Jeremiah, and he smiled at her. He stopped at the table and pulled out a chair for her to sit down. He sat across from her. Jeremiah poured them each a glass of champagne. He handed Joci her glass, then he picked up his.
“I want to toast. Here’s to us, Joci. I love you.”
He tapped his glass to hers.
“I love you, too.”
They sipped their champagne and set their glasses down.
She was smiling. “This reminds me of the first night we spent together. You had these candles all over the house. You said you didn’t know anything about being romantic, but you do. Here you are doing it again.”
Jeremiah looked into her eyes. “Well, you’ll have to pardon me for repeating a good move, but after the no clothing rule was lifted and I came out to start the grill, I realized how nice it is out here, so I thought we could come outside and play.”
Jeremiah got up and opened the grill. He placed two lobster tails on a plate surrounded by vegetables and set it in the middle of the table. Joci looked up at him as a smile slid across her face. “Lobster? You truly spoil me.”
“Good. I’m glad you feel spoiled.”
They ate their meal and sipped their champagne. A light breeze blew across the patio, making the candles to flicker. It was beautiful. Joci sighed loudly and sat back in her chair. “Bliss. This is bliss.”
Jeremiah stood and walked around the table to Joci. He bent down on one knee. “Joci. I love you so much. When I look at you, I see my future. I see my life with you and Gunnar, JT, and Ryder. I see us playing with children and grandchildren. I can’t picture my life without you in it. I don’t want a future without you in it. Joci, will you marry me?”
Joci looked into his eyes. She had no idea he had planned to propose this weekend. It hadn’t occurred to her.
“Jeremiah, I love you, too. So very much. I don’t want a future without you in it either. I want to be a family with you and the boys, more than anything in the world. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Jeremiah jumped up and pulled Joci with him. He hugged her tight and kissed her. When they needed air, Jeremiah gently set Joci on her feet and pulled a ring out of his pocket. It was beautiful. The candlelight flickered on the stone, making it dance and gleam. Jeremiah slid it on her finger and Joci gasped at it. It was a three-karat, princess-cut diamond solitaire—the most beautiful ring Joci had ever seen in her life. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Jeremiah, it’s so beautiful.”
“Joci, I’m so happy right now I can barely catch my breath. I was so worried you would say no.”
“A couple of weeks ago, I might have. But this weekend, when Gunnar told you he loved you and you told him you loved him back, something happened inside of me. For the first time, I felt like there was a future for us. You love my son, and it suddenly seemed real for me, like nothing ever has. I was so afraid to think long-term about us because I didn’t want my heart to get broken. I was holding back. But watching you and Gunnar with each other made me realize you were committed to our family. It isn’t just sex—you love us both.”
Jeremiah wrapped Joci in his arms and held her for long moments.
“I’ve been in love with you for so damned long. It was never about sex. I met you, and I knew you were special. I worked with you this past year, and fell in love with you more and more day by day. In some ways, it was great you keeping me at arm’s length this past year. We got to know each other slowly. Even though I would have given anything for it to be different. I wanted you so badly. Waiting for you was
the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but the most beneficial, because now I have you.”
She had never heard anything so beautiful. She wiped her eyes and looked at him. He wanted to marry her.
“But, Joci, I look at you and all I can think of is that I want to have babies with you. We both can have a second chance at doing it right. I want to be there when they come into the world. I want to share all of the joys and challenges with you. We would both be able to raise a family in a way neither of us got to before.”
“Jeremiah, what if I can’t have babies anymore? The women in my family go into early menopause. What if I can’t anymore?” Joci choked at the thought that Jeremiah wouldn’t want her if she couldn’t have babies.
“Joci, baby…all I ask is that you try. Will you agree to try and get pregnant?”
Joci swallowed and wiped her eyes again. She wiped her nose with a napkin from the table and looked into Jeremiah’s eyes. She nodded her head and swallowed.
“Are you sure you still want me if I can’t have babies?” Her voice cracked.
“God, Joci. I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
Jeremiah hugged her close and rocked back and forth. Joci hung on for dear life.
“Let’s sit and swing. You and Gunnar looked like you’d done that before.”
“Yes, when he was a baby, I would swing him back and forth. As he got older, our nightly routine in the summer was to sit on the swing and read books. As he continued to grow and not want to read, it was our nightly routine to sit and talk about our days. It became a comfortable routine for both of us.”
Joci and Jeremiah sat in the swing and talked for hours about the future, the kids, the house.
“I asked Gunnar’s permission to marry you. The first time we spoke about it was when the Golden Girls were singing. He asked me if I was going to marry you. I wanted to be sure it wasn’t the alcohol talking and asked Gunnar again yesterday morning.”
