Crimson Lace

Chapter Four

Lux sighed deeply as she walked back towards Teller-Morrow, hoping to God that her truck was finally done. She wasn't in the mood for another run in with Gemma and just wanted to go home before going over to dinner at Jade's tonight. When she stepped onto the lot, more people seemed to be crowded at the front of the clubhouse, Lux's green eyes scanned over the lot when she saw Jax. He was the only garage door open, with her truck parked right out front as he was bent over working on it.

Walking across the lot she moved to stand beside him, leaning against the side. Jax could feel someone standing beside him and slowly pulled up to see Lux's emerald eyes staring down towards him. A smile spread across his face as he reached for the cloth in his pocket and wiped the grease from his hand.

"Hey," He smiled "Saw you leave earlier, didn't think you'd be coming back,"

"Just went and had some coffee and breakfast," Lux shrugged "How is she? Drivable yet?"

Jax nodded his head "Yeah. Did the battery change and gave it a nice tune up, along with an oil change. Should drive like new now." Jax stepped back and closed the hood of the car "In a few months come back and we'll do the oil change again and make sure everything is working ok,"

"Great," Lux began to reach into her purse for her wallet "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing." Jax spoke, watching as the woman before him froze and turned back to him with a confused look on her face. She swept her long ebony hair from her face as she stared back towards him.

"I can't not pay for this, Jax. I have to do something. I'm not one to have free-bee's and giveaways. I'm not a charity case."

"Never said you were, darlin'," Jax chuckled "My mom's girls get a special discount. First check is free, second one is half off, and the third is back to full price"

Lux narrowed her eyes towards Jax and had a feeling he was lying, but secretly she wasn't one to fight over something free. It was really an act. Dropping her wallet back into her purse, Lux walked over to the side of the truck and dropped her purse into the open window before turning towards Jax.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Lux asked as she looked towards him "Everyone else has either been...difficult…" Lux sighed referring to Gemma earlier "But you...you've given me a ride home and now fixing my car, why?"

"A guy can't be nice?" Lux shook her head, crossing her arms at her chest, giving Jax a nice view of her chest "Honestly just wanted to help. Mother taught me well enough to know not to leave a girl stranded in the middle of the night,"

Lux smiled towards him and muttered a small thank you before taking the keys from Jax. She got behind the wheel of her truck before pulling out of the parking spot and down the main street of Charming. Jax watched her go, the same feeling sitting in his chest as before. He knew what it meant, and wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

-x-x-x-

After a quick shower, thanks to the California heat causing her body to sweat more than usually, Lux walked out and stood in front of the dresser inside the motel room, picking out a pair of black jean cutoffs and a tank top that hugged the curves of her body. After grabbing a button up plaid and throwing it over her shirt, Lux brushed back her unruly black hair before applying makeup to her face.

Nervous butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she moved to slip on her favorite pair of black chelsea boots. Tonight was Lux's first official gathering with anyone in Charming. She'd been here for nearly two months and finally she was getting out of her motel room besides work and eating at the diner. Slipping on a few rings, and her mothers necklace, she grabbed her bag before heading out towards her truck.

It didn't take long for Lux to find Jade and Opie's home. Bikes lined the road outside the house and driveway. Parking down the street, Lux made her way up the drive and towards the house before knocking softly on the door. She waited no more than a few minutes outside in the humid air before someone opened the door. Lux smiled nervously when she saw Opie standing on the other side.

"Hey, come on in" He stepped to the side before opening the door open wider.

Lux could hear the loud noise of chatter, along with music and the smell of the smoke. She looked around and saw nothing but men in leather and women slinging beer. Might have well of done it at the club, Lux thought. Spotting Jade through the opening of the kitchen, she walked forward and smiled, but it quickly went away when she saw Gemma standing in front of Jade.

"You finally came!" Jade spoke happily before walking towards Lux and wrapping her arms around the brunette "We were worried you wouldn't,"

"We?" Lux spoke, knowing all too well by the look on Gemma's face, the older woman wasn't all to happy about seeing her. But she wasn't going to let it show that it was bothering her.

"Of course," Jade walked over towards the counter and poured a glass of red wine before handing it over "Welcome to the first family gathering,"

"Thanks," Lux perked up when she saw wine being passed towards her. It had been forever, it felt like, since she'd had a glass. And red is my favorite.

Lux stood awkwardly in the kitchen as everyone around seemed to fall easily back into their conversations. Not really knowing anyone besides Jade and Gemma. Pushing off from the counter, Lux slowly made her way out of the kitchen and stepped outside with her pack tight in her grasp.

Taking a seat on the back step, Lux quickly lit a cigarette and took a long drag, before blowing the smoke into the humid air. She sat alone for a while in silence before she heard footsteps coming up behind her. Turning around quickly, she saw Jax walking towards her with a beer in his grasp. She smiled towards him as he moved along to sit down beside her.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" He asked, before grabbing his own packet of cigarettes.

"Not really a...party type of person," She spoke softly, before bringing the cigarette back to her lips

"Yeah, we're a lot to take in," Jax chuckled softly as he lit his cigarette and looked towards Lux

"It's not you guys, just...never been good around people." She shrugs "I'm sure you're all a lot of fun,"

Jax chuckled softly before nodding his head and taking a drag from the cigarette before taking a sip of his beer. They both sat in silence, before Lux stubbed out the butt of her cigarette into the concrete of the back steps. She turned towards Jax and saw him staring towards her, and she couldn't help the blush that covered her cheeks as she turned away quickly.

"So, what brings you to Charming. My mother said you came into the club after you came rolling into town."

"Needed a new start," Lux shrugged "Life I used to have wasn't exactly healthy... literally placed my finger randomly on a map and it landed on this pretty little town."

Jax started towards her "Regretting that decision yet?"

"Well, I'm still broke as fuck. I'm barely making it by week to week and I'm living in a shit motel that I swear is also a brothel," She took a sip of her wine "Oh, yeah. I'm living the life right now."

Jax's brows pulled tightly together as he watched her. He could see her fidgeting with the stem of the wine glass in her hands, her leg bouncing slightly. He could see, what looked to be, roses tattooed on the side of her hip that made it's way down her thigh, peeking through the bottom of her shorts. Her long black hair moved down her back in waves and Jax wanted nothing more than to grab to it tightly as she moaned his name. He bit his lower lip as his blue eyes scanned over her body, feeling his jeans tighten as he sat beside her.

"Stop looking at me like that," Lux spoke softly as she stared forward out towards the backyard.

"Like what?"

"Like you wanna fuck me," Lux spoke as her green eyes looked towards Jax, holding his gaze as she stared back towards him.

"And what's so bad about that?" He chuckled, the charm vibrating off his body before he moved closer to her "Maybe I want to."

Lux shook her head "No, you don't. You don't want to get mixed in with a girl like me. I'd only break your heart, pretty boy,"

"You're so sure you'd be doing the heartbreaking, darlin'?" Jax asked

Lux looked towards him and felt her heart beat hard against her chest. His eyes darkened as he stared back towards her, she knew it was his charm that was making her feel like this. But she forced herself to look away and back down towards her legs. She could feel the blush traveling up her body, and from the soft chuckle leaving his lips, Lux knew Jax had noticed.

"According to your mother….I need to stay far away from you….even though she already thinks you've been in my pants…"

"Is that why you nearly ran out of the lot?" Lux looked towards him again and Jax felt his heart stop for a moment as he looked into her green eyes. He couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips "What did she say to you"

Lux shrugged her shoulders "Just wondering why you took me home the other day, how long you stayed, if you and I fucked. I knew that's what she was looking for. I told her my sex life was none of her business and left."

"Shit, I'm sorry" Jax apologized "My mother likes to stick her nose in shit she's got no business sticking her nose in"

From behind them a door opened and Lux turned to look over and see a tall blonde woman walking towards them. When she got closer, Lux could see that it was Ima. She'd rolled her eyes as she woman wobbled on the heels she was wearing towards Jax.

"Jax," She spoke, her high pitched nasally voice sending shivers of disgust down Lux's back, as Jax turned around towards the voice calling his name.

Ima walked around and moved to sit beside Jax, practically on his lap, and draping her arm around him. Lux shook her head and reached for another cigarette.

"Why don't you come back to the party," Ima whined while pressing herself against him. Jax tried to move out of the woman's arms, but it seemed every time he moved, she dug her nails in deeper "Please,"

"Ima, I'm kinda having a conversation right now."

Lux couldn't help but chuckle, because of the fact he sounded like he was reprimanding a child.

Ima scuffed slightly and glared towards Lux "What? With this tramp? She's nothing Jax, come on, why don't we head out and continue the party with just us,"

Getting up quickly from her seat, Lux left the two of them, not wanting to sit there and listen to Ima any more. She heard the blonde call after her, throwing in some more insults, as she walked through the sliding doors. Lux took a few deep breaths before walking through the crowd that formed in the living room. She felt her blood rushing through her veins at the thought of Ima. She never got along with her since she started working at Cara Cara. But she never acted back, wanting to change the habits that seemed to always have her running away at one point.

"Lux!" Jade shouted for her "Come 'ere,"

The woman waved her over, causing Lux's quick escape to be ruined. She sighed softly and walked towards the woman, before another glass of wine was shoved in her hand.

"I saw you talking to Jax," She smiled, her words slurring slightly "What did you two talk about?"

"Why do I feel like everyone in this town wants to know my business?" Lux sighed heavily

"Cause it's a small town, and it's better me asking then Gemma," Jade bumped her arm slightly "Come on, tell me."

"Nothing of importance," Lux spoke as her eyes looked out the back window and her heart sank as she saw Ima straddling Jax's waist as they made out on the back porch "I'm going to go."

"What, no," Jade stepped forward "Please stay, don't leave me,"

"I need to go, Jade" Lux set down her drink and quickly grabbed her things, practically running out the door.

Jade stood there with a frown as she watched the woman go before turning around, Ima and Jax catching her quickly. She glared out toward them and angrily through Lux's drink into the sink, shattering the glass. She's known Jax since they were kids, and really hated it when something good was placed in front of him and he always ended up fucking it up.

"Hey, darlin" Opie spoke, stepping up behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck "What are you doin?"

"Cleaning up," She spoke angrily, her eyes still watching Ima and Jax "I think you need to go and get your friend before he turns our back porch into a fucking pornofest"

Opie pulled away from her slightly and chuckled when he saw Jax "Leave him, be….he's a grown ass man, baby."

"Still, don't like it so go and do it," She turned in his arms "Please,"

Opie knew better than to argue with his wife. He nodded his head once before bending down and kissing her softly and making his way out of the back. When he opened the sliding door, Ima pulled away from Jax and smirked towards Opie.

"Why don't you get going, I'm sure there's someone else you can….entertain in there," Opie spoke

"I'm here with Jax,"

"And this is my house so do as I say,"

Ima sighed heavily before getting up and walking back into the house. Jax stood up and readjusted himself before turning towards his best friend.

"Having a little fun out here, I see" Opie chuckled "Fair warning though, the wife has it out for you."

"Jade? Why?"

Opie shrugged "I don't know. I think it has to do with the fact that Lux ran out of here so damn quickly. Saw them talking in the kitchen before she bolted"

Jax's eyes shot towards the window that looked into the kitchen and saw Jad standing before it, her arms crossed her her chest as she shook her head and glared towards him. Jax already knew what that meant. He internally cursed himself before turning away from her. He knew that meant Lux had seen.

He wasn't with her, so it didn't matter. So then why the fuck is guilt started to set deeply within my chest?

AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review with your thoughts/concerns/questions. I'll be happy to ask.

xo

Charlie