Page 22 of Moving to Love
Joci sighed loudly. Jeremiah kept touching her belly and kissing her imperfections. “Did you ever think about having another baby, Joci?”
She looked at Jeremiah. “There was a time I longed for a little girl. My whole adult life was all about boy things. Boy games. Boy clothes. Boy everything. I wanted a pretty little girl to spoil. Now I’m too old.”
Jeremiah looked at her with furrowed brows. “No, you’re not. Under the right circumstances, it would be great.”
“Yes, well, the right circumstances haven’t materialized.” She smiled.
Joci watched Jeremiah look at her belly.
“Did you ever want another baby?” she whispered.
“I guess I never thought about it. I didn’t have anyone in my life I wanted to have a baby with. It would be so different with the right person.”
Uh oh, Joci wasn’t going there. She had already raised a boy by herself. She wasn’t willing to risk having another child she would have to raise by herself. She started sitting up and pulling away when Jeremiah caught her leg.
“Don’t get scared. I was just thinking out loud.”
Joci didn’t want to have this conversation. The women in her family had all gone through early menopause. She hadn’t had a regular period in two years. She was on birth control to regulate her periods. Her doctor didn’t like putting her on birth control at her age, but it worked for her. However, if it was the beginning of menopause, she was grateful she didn’t have the other horrible symptoms yet—hot flashes, mood swings, any of that.
Joci cleared her throat, “We should probably get going.”
Jeremiah sat up. “Will you ride with me today, Joci? I know you ride yourself, and I don’t want to take anything from you, but I would love it if you would ride with me and be with me today. I want to feel your legs wrapped around me and talk to you while we ride. Will you do that?”
She cocked her head to the side and studied him. She would be able to look around and see all the bikes and signs that people had told her she would see.
She smiled. “I would like that.”
Jeremiah winked. “I’m anxious for everyone to know we’re finally together.”
Joci slid off the side of the bed. “I think quite a few people already know after we left last night. I’m sure word was traveling like crazy once we were gone.”
She walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
She peeked out at Jeremiah, who was watching her walk away. “We’ll need to go to my place to get some clean clothes, though.”
“No problem. But I want you to pack some things and bring them here. I’ll clear out some space in the closet and dresser for you. We can begin that way.”
She hesitated a moment before turning and stepping into the shower and under the spray of water to wash her hair. Jeremiah joined her, quickly washed up, and then stepped out, giving her the massive shower for herself. She took her time letting the water slide over her body, and the fresh scent of his shower soap tickled her nostrils. She giggled, thinking that now she would even smell like Jeremiah. Little doubt they were together.
* * *
When she stepped out, Jeremiah walked into the bathroom.
“I warmed up your coffee. Do you need anything else?” He set the cup on the counter, and the scent of fresh coffee wafted up to her nose.
She smiled, marveling at her good fortune in finding him. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans, which, of course, were incredibly sexy on him. Slung low on his hips, with little frays on the belt loops. As her eyes traveled down the length of him, she noticed his fly move a little and the muscles bunched in his thighs. Now that she knew what was underneath, she thought he was even sexier. Her eyes traveled back up to his, and her breath caught at the intensity of his gaze. “You keep looking at me like that, and you’ll be bent over the counter in no time.”
Joci’s cheeks tinted pink, but she smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re not the only one who can’t get enough.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I have to get out of here, or we’ll be late.”
He turned to leave, wearing a t-shirt that was the men’s version of the shirt that matched hers for the ride today, tucked in his jeans, which showed off his fantastic ass. He had his hair pulled back into a low ponytail. So sexy. “Do you need anything?”
Jeremiah looked at her, surprise on his face. “Not anymore. I have everything I need right here in front of me.”
Joci smiled and cocked her head. He chuckled, tapped the tip of her nose, and left.
