Page 9 of Moving to Love
Connor stood and hugged Joci. “I’m good, Joci. Had a busy few days at work, but everything is fine. You look beautiful as always.”
Joci smiled at him. Connor swept his hand to the side and offered her the seat where he had been sitting.
“If I could have your attention, please. I’d like to get this meeting started so we can relax and enjoy the rest of the night. We’ll all be working hard tomorrow,” Jeremiah spoke into the microphone.
She loved the deep timbre of his voice as it floated over her whole body, covering her like her favorite sweater. It revved up her senses like nothing else in the world. She could almost imagine him whispering in her ear as he made love to her.
She looked up at Jeremiah as he stood at the edge of the stage with a microphone in his hand. He looked perfect up there. He was confident, strong, in control, and sexy, sexy, sexy! He was wearing tight jeans and a black sleeveless shirt that showed off his perfect arms. Both his upper biceps were tattooed in beautiful scroll designs. And in the same scroll pattern, he had dates tattooed on the back of each of his wrists. God, she could look at him all day. He glanced down at her, but he was scowling.
“First of all, I want to thank a few people before we get down to the nitty-gritty. Deacon, once again, the hard work and effort you give to this cause each year astounds me. Thank you for so much dedication and time on your part to keep this ball rolling.”
Deacon stood up and gave a thumbs-up to Dog as the crowd clapped and cheered.
“Gunnar…you have really impressed me with your organizational skills and your ability to think outside of the box. You’ve helped us solve so many of our issues with space and parking. Thanks, man; we all appreciate it.”
Gunnar had a smile from ear to ear. David slapped him on the back, and Joci smiled proudly at her son. He had his dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, and his bright, blue eyes twinkled. Gunnar looked over at his mom; she could tell he was very proud of himself. Joci winked at him and clapped louder than anyone else in the crowd. Jackie let out a loud whistle for Gunnar.
“Joci. Thank you for designing the best logo we’ve ever had and putting together the marketing plan of the century, along with the website. In the eight years we’ve been doing this ride, nothing has come together like it did this year due to your designs and marketing ideas. Because of you, this ride will be the biggest ride we’ve had to date. Thank you, baby.”
The crowd cheered. Joci did a double-take. Had she heard right over the cheering? Did he call her ’baby?’ God, he had. He called her baby! Joci felt someone bump her shoulder and looked at Sandi, whose smile was spread across her face as she gave Joci a thumbs up.
Oh. My. God. Joci thought she would like to just spontaneously combust right now. As she looked around at everyone, she saw Gunnar look at her with a smirk on his face, and Jackie looked at her with a smile and a wink. Jon was grinning as well. Connor was frowning at her. Then Joci saw LuAnn.
LuAnn was looking at her like she wanted to kill her. Joci was plain by LuAnn’s standards. The men always commented on LuAnn. They positively drooled when she walked by. Over this past year, as Joci worked with the crew on this ride, she heard so many guys saying very crude and rude things about what they would like to do to LuAnn.
As Jeremiah continued to give accolades and started explaining how things would work tomorrow, Joci brought her attention back to him. “Finally, the sign-up crew will sign the bikers and riders in when they get here in the morning. Janice, Ricky, and Joci, you’ll be with me at the sign-in table. Break into your crews and organize yourselves for tomorrow. Sign-up crew, meet with me in the store, please.”
Joci stood up to start walking into the store, and Sandi swatted Joci on the ass. “Go get him, Joci.”
Joci shook her head at her friend and opened the service door in the back by the garage. The store was in the front, but Joci was used to walking through the back. When she came here, she usually walked through the back way so she could say hello to Gunnar and the guys. As soon as Joci walked into the shop, she could smell Jeremiah’s aftershave. It was the most delicious spicy scent that had teased her nostrils for the past few months. He was leaning against a wall waiting for her. His arms were crossed over his chest.
Joci stopped in her tracks at the sight of him. Jesus, he was breathtaking. He smiled at her, then pushed himself off the wall with his shoulder and walked toward her. With each step, Joci could feel her heart beating faster.
When he stood right in front of her, he reached his hand out and touched her hair. He slid his fingers in her hair at the temple and back until he was cupping her head.
He slowly bent his head down and kissed her lightly on the lips. She moaned at the feel of his lips on hers. A shiver ran through her body, her breathing erratic. He slid his free hand around her waist and pulled her close. That was the undoing of Joci James. She grabbed his shirt on each side of his waist and fisted it in her hands. She hung on, trying not to fall, trying not to let this man consume her. That wasn’t going to be easy.
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Jeremiah groaned into her mouth and pulled her closer. She smelled amazing, a scent unique to only Joci, fresh and clean with a hint of spice. And she was aroused by him; he could feel her body responding to him. He couldn’t wait anymore. He had to take this chance and make her see they could be amazing together.
He slid his hand down to the top of her sweet, little ass and pulled her into the hardness behind his zipper. She let out a little sob at the feel of him pushed against her. He deepened the kiss, his hold on her head kept her in place while he seduced her mouth with his lips and his tongue.
Every time she whimpered or moaned, it spurred him on. He could imagine how she would moan and mewl while he was fucking her. That thought alone almost made him blow in his pants.
Jeremiah broke the kiss and put his forehead against Joci’s. Their breathing was ragged and raspy. They were both shaking and hanging on to each other.
Jeremiah said, “We’ll go over things with Ricky and Janice so that tomorrow will run smoothly. Then, we’re leaving…together…and tonight we’re going to be together. No more of you avoiding me. I want you, Joci, and you want me.”
Jeremiah lifted his head and looked into her eyes. She saw the determination there.
She took a deep breath. “Then what, Jeremiah? We go our separate ways? You fuck me, so I’m out of your system and move on? Is that what?”
Jeremiah’s brows furrowed, and his eyes became little slits.
