By the time I’m standing in front of Jorja’s desk with the flowers hidden behind my back, she's the only one unaware I’m there. Even Sidney's opened her door to watch. I give her a head nod, and she laughs.
I slowly start pushing Jorja’s laptop closed.
Her face flashes a frown. She's annoyed. When she looks up to discover who the fuck is fucking with her, I notice she's wearing dark brown eyeshadow with black eyeliner and dark red lipstick.
Goddamn, she is drop-dead gorgeous! Thank God I wore tight briefs today. Otherwise, the dragon wouldn’t be invisible.
Her expression changes instantly. Her mouth falls open.
“Sup, Juicy?”
Then back again to annoyed because … that name. She cuts her eyes to see if anyone overheard, and I smile at her sheepishly as I pull the flowers out from behind my back.
“This is me….” I lift my eyebrows. “You know.”
She smiles as “aahs” fill the room. Then she removes her earbuds and stands to take them.
Fuck me. Her white shirt is tucked into a red pencil skirt. Her hourglass curves accentuated perfectly. Her heels must be high because her tits and ass are posed superbly.
“They're beautiful. Thank you.” She sticks her nose into them and sniffs.
“You’re welcome. Are we doing lunch today?”
She glances up at the clock. “Yes. I was just about to text you. I had a loose end to tie up first, and I was unsure how long it would take me, but I’m finished. We can go.”
She unplugs her laptop and stuffs it in her satchel.
I reach for it. “I got this, Babe.”
She smiles at me, and I swear my heart tries to float away. I lift my arm as she walks around her desk, and she slides underneath as natural as if she had done it a thousand times before. Her hand skims along the arch of my back and comes to rest on my waist as I hug her tight to me. “So … Greer Vineyard’s tasting room?”
She tilts her face as we walk to Lucifer and the door. The warmth in her eyes stirs the lust in my loins, and I marvel at how she's always had that effect on me. “No. We would need a reservation for a private tasting room.”
“Ah, you're breaking my heart.”
“We're going to pick up an order to go from Lulu’s Diner and take it back to your place to eat.”
Hell yeah! I would love to kiss the fuck out of her right now, but puckering my lips is impossible. My smile splits my face from ear to ear.
“I hope you have more than 30 minutes then.”
She tries to bite her bottom lip, but her grin's too big too. “Sidney's given me permission to work remotely on the article for the contest.”
I look back at Sidney, and she mouths, “You’re welcome.”
It pays to be a Malone.
At the door, Jorja speaks to Lucifer, “Good morning, Luce.”
He wags his tail but waits.
When I pull the door open, I suck my lips, “Psst,” and he heels.
Before Jorja goes through, she gives him a good hard head rub, flopping his ears back and forth, and I swear he smiles.
Chapter Fourteen
Jorja
I squint in the sunlight and shield my eyes with my hand as we step out of the building onto the sidewalk. Jocko takes my hand and steps off the curb, jaywalking across the street. His strides are long, so I tippy-toe run in my heels to keep up.
“Where did you park?”
He points, “Across the block.”
“I can give you a lift over if you like.”
“Not necessary.”
But on the other side of the street, he turns toward my car.
“Jocko, are you going to walk me to my car?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” I laugh. “For my safety?” I poke fun at him.
“No, for my sanity.”
When we arrive, he spins me around and pushes me up against it. My heart drops to my feet and lights that spark only he seems to be able to ignite.
He sets my satchel on the hood, then takes the flowers from my hand and throws them on top. Then his lips descend to mine as his hands feel their way around my hips to my ass.
I suck a deep breath of his essence as my body instantly submits to his desire. His lips crush mine as his hands grab a handful of my butt cheeks, and he lifts me off my heels. He wedges a knee between my legs, forcing them open. My tight skirt slides up my stockinged thighs as they spread for him. He sets me on the hood of the car and kisses the fuckity fuck out of my mouth, leaving no doubt to anyone, especially me, what his intentions are.
I slide my arms around his neck and make sure that everyone, from Jocko to my coworkers staring out the window, knows what my intentions are.
When he finally lets me go, he stares into my dazed eyes. I am a hot mess, and he is too.
“My God, Jocko.”
“I warned you I would be brazen the next time I kissed you.”
I bite my bottom lip. “Yes, you did, but….”
“But … you don’t want me kissing you?”
“I did not say that.”
“Then what are you saying?” His lips peck mine and the world spins again.
My voice is husky and breathy. “I am ready to feed you.”
He picks my ass up and slides my hot mess down his hard body, then sets me on my feet. Stabilizes my weak knees. Grabs the flowers and my satchel, then pecks my lips again. Takes my hand. Sucks his lips, “Psst.” And leads the way.
I blindly follow, not knowing where he is taking me and not caring because I will follow him to the ends of the earth.
When we round the corner at The Cottage, Sunnyville’s bed and breakfast, butterflies hit me. I know I’m ready, but I’m still nervous. He doesn’t look at me as he unlocks the door. Holding my hand, he allows Lucifer to enter first, then we walk into the suite.
He tells Lucifer, “Crate up.” And the K9 trots into the small bedroom. Jocko sets my satchel and the flowers down on a small table then takes me into his arms.
Without saying a word, his expression says everything. The longing and desire a clear and present danger to my virginity. “Jocko, I've never….” I let my words fade away.
His expression changes when my meaning registers. His look grows so intense, it takes my breath away. He cups my face between his hands, strokes it with his thumbs, and stares into my eyes. The love I see looking back at me stuns me. There's no longer any doubt in my mind how Jocko feels about me.
“Jorja, I can wait if you aren’t ready.”
“I didn’t say that.”
He leans down and kisses my forehead, then pulls me into his arms and holds me.
At first, I’m tense, nervous, but he doesn’t do anything but hold me in his strong arms. Laying my cheek on his chest. Hearing his heart beating. Listening to his breath, moving in and out of his lungs. Feeling my face caress it as it does. The scent of his cologne teasing my nostrils. I feel safe, and slowly, I relax.
When I slide my hands around his waist and squeeze him, he kisses the top of my head. “Ham sandwich for lunch, or shall we order pizza?”
“Pizza,” I whisper.
He shifts his embrace to one arm as he pulls his phone from his pants pocket and dials. “I would like an extra-large pineapple, mushroom, with black olives and pepperoni on a hand-tossed crust, please.”