Jax woke up by himself on the couch and sat up, making sure he was covered from the waist down. He searched and found his boxers, putting them on. He smelled bacon and walked into the kitchen to see Candice in his shirt from the day before at his stove. He leaned against the archway and just watched. Her being in his shirt sent the message straight to is groin and he loved every minute of it. Last night wasn't planned, he knew that. He wouldn't trade it though. It had been perfect and she was even more beautiful now, hair a mess and in his shirt. "If you're through gawking at me, can you please get down some plates." She stated, not turning around.

He chuckled and walked over to the cabinet, taking two plates down and placing them on the counter. He turned and leaned his back against the counter top, watching her finish up. "Smells good, babe."

"Thank you." she replied, putting the bacon onto the plates before cracking the eggs onto the skillet.

"What do you wanna do today?" She asked, looking at him for a second.

He just smirked and she rolled her eyes. "Jax, as much as staying in with you all damn day would be...I kinda wanna go to that tree you took me to. Just escape for the day."

He smiled and kissed her. "We can do that, Candice."

"Good." She stated, putting the eggs on the plates and then sitting the pan back on the stove.

Jax took the plates to the table and set them down for her. He went to grab forks while she grabbed some juice for them. He sat next to her and took her hand, making her look at him.

"How're you feeling?"

She smiled and looked at him. "Better than I ever remember. Last night was perfect."

He smiled back at her and squeezed her hand. "Same here, babe."

She nodded and then took a bite.

After they were finished eating, Jax went to the shower. Candice cleaned up their clothes from the night before and she slipped her cotton shorts on. "I'm gonna need some clothes." She thought when she noticed Jax's shirt covered her shorts. She put her dirty clothes in a bag as she heard the bedroom door open and Jax padding down the hall.

"I think I'm going to shower at dad's. I don't have clothes here."

He nodded and pulled her to him. "Alright, but I'm in no hurry to get my shirt back."

She kissed him and smiled. "Good, I can sleep in it when you're not with me."

He put his forehead to hers. "Darlin', I don't think I'm not going to be without you anymore."

He saw her face light up and cupped her face. "You're more beautiful with fucked up hair in the morning then you were laying under me last night. I like the sex look on you, Candice."

He kissed her as she blushed. "Let's get you clean."

She nodded and then let him lead her out and to his bike.


They walked into her house to see Piney up and drinking a cup of coffee in the living room.

"Morning, daddy."

He looked up and smiled. "Morning, baby."

She turned to take her shower, leaving the boys in the living room. She went to her room and grabbed a pair of black lace boy shorts and a matching bra before heading to her closet. She pulled out a pair of boot cut jeans and a black cami, laying a blue plaid button up on her bed to grab when she was finished. She went into the bathroom across the hall and shut the door. She turned the water on and then stripped as the water heated up. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. The girl looking back at her looked almost like before she was raped.

She looked truly happy and in love...wait. She leaned closer to look at her face. She couldn't be in love with him already, major like, but not love. She shook her head and climbed into he shower. She let the water cascade over her, loosening her muscles as she thought about the L word. It took her almost six months to say that to Kenny and now here she was, almost three months with Jax and not only had she slept with him, she was thinking about the L word. She knew she liked him loads, loved all the things about him. She knew she loved him as a friend, but being in love was something different.

Harry and Donna were in love, Gemma and Clay also. She thought about the way her brother would look at his wife, trying to figure it out. She shook her head and turned the water off and climbed out. She dried off and put her clothes on before towel drying her hair. She walked out of the bathroom, hearing Jax and Piney talk about something. She opened the door to her room and went to brush her hair. She pulled it into a low ponytail, knowing she was wearing his helmet for the ride. "I need to buy one." She muttered as she slipped her converse on and grabbed the button down on her bed. She walked out to see her dad and Jax lounging in the room. They both looked at her as she entered the room, the young man beaming at her. She blushed and kissed her dad. "We're going riding."

He nodded. "Alright. I wanna talk when you get back, yeah?"

She nodded, "Sure. We're in no hurry though, wanna talk now?"

Piney looked at Jax and she looked at both men. Jax excused himself and headed outside. Piney motioned for his daughter to sit on the couch next to him so she did. She watched as he took her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing it. "I have loved having you here, baby girl."

"I love being here, dad. Everyone here has helped me out a lot."

He smiled. "I know Jackson has, maybe even more then he knows."

She blushed and looked down. He smiled and continued. "He loves you, y'know. I don't know if he knows yet or now, but I see it. He looks at you like your brother looks at Donna. He reminds of JT with how he takes care of you."

She whipped her head to look at him. "Really?"

Her dad nodded and kissed her forehead. "Really."

She beamed at him and then hugged him. "Thank you. Where can I get a helmet? I keep using his."

Piney thought on it for a second and looked at her. "Have him take you to Lodi, they have more choices." He stated, giving her $250.

"Dad, I..."

"Hey, I missed a lot of birthdays, baby. He knows where to go and it may get you a helmet and a jacket."

"Thank you."


Jax parked his bike at the store in Lodi that his mom had gotten her stuff at. He kicked the stand and then helped her off. She let him take her hand and lead her into the shop. She stopped in awe at the door, trying to figure out how she was going to pick one out. They had all kinds of helmets and jackets and Candice didn't know where to start. Jax watched as she took in the store. He squeezed her hand, signaling her over to the female helmets.

"Can I help you?"

The couple looked over to see a worker heading to them. When she saw his cut though, she stopped. Jax smiled and nodded, "My girl needs her first helmet. What would your recommend?"

The worked came over and studied the girl for a sec. "Do you want plain color or a design?"

Candice pondered on it, looking through the different styles. She looked up at Jax. "What do you think?"

He shrugged, "Get what ya want, babe. The jacket needs to be light though, the humidity will kill you here."

She nodded and looked back at the worker. "Um, maybe just a plain one. I can always add to it later, right?"

The worker nodded, "Yes, that's a good choice since you're not sure. Helmet's are necessary, of course, but you want to have the right one for you."

In the end, it took them about 45 minutes and Candice was walking out with a black helmet and a jacket. Jax mounted his bike and then helped her on before buckling his helmet to him and taking the tie from his hair. She laid her head on his back as he took off to the big oak tree.

Jax parked pretty much like he did that day and helped her off his bike. He pulled her down with him and she sat between his legs, back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and they just sat and looked at the world. She looked up at him to see him looking at her. He smiled and leaned in to give her a kiss, causing her to turn in his arms and bring her hand up to his neck to deepen it. Jax was surprised when her tongue licked his lip, but recovered quickly, letting his tongue out to meet hers. He helped her turn around and straddle him when he stretched his legs out in front of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his shoulder when she needed air and smiled when he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey you." He whispered when she raised her head and looked into his eyes.

"Is this too fast?"

She watched him furrow his brows, contemplating the question.

"Do you think so? You're calling the shots more then I am, babe."

She let out a breath and kept her eyes on him. "I don't know. I don't think so. When I was in the shower all I thought about was how after two years, it still didn't feel right with Kenny and with you...everything does."

He smiled and tucked a loose hair behind her ear.

"I think every relationship is different, Candice. It took me and Tara longer then you and me, but I think it's the first person thing. Tara was my first, Kenny was yours. We were learning, baby."

She nodded, thinking about his reply. "That makes sense."

She saw something flicker in his eyes and she furrowed her brow, "What?"

He looked into her face and whispered. "Do you regret moving fast?"

He watched her face as she realized what he asked and she shook her head. "Never. It was the right time, Jackson. I will never regret last night or whatever other night as long as it's you that looks at me like I'm the best thing in their world."

She watched as he let out a breath and she leaned in and kissing him. "Never question my feelings for you, Jax." She whispered against his mouth.

He deepened the kiss by plunging his tongue into her mouth. She moaned as she started to feel the effect of the kiss pushing into her center. When air was needed, he moved down trailing light kisses down her jaw and neck. She tilted her head, letting him have access and giggled when he bit into the spot next to her shoulder. He came back up to look at her, smiling. "Ticklish, huh?"

She shrugged, "So it would seem."

She ran her hands in his cut and he knew she wanted him out of it. He slipped his hands out of it and then put them on her hips; she had taken her jacket off when they got off the bike. She leaned in and kissed him again, slowly plunging her tongue to meet his. She ran her hands on the inside of his shirt and over his abs, she loved his abs. She moaned as she felt him slowly run his hands up her sides and back down again. When air was need, she pulled back. "We should get back before clothes come off."

He chuckled and kissed her again. "Alright. What did you and Piney talk about?"

He watched as her face took on a nervous look and he furrowed his brows. "You ok?"

She nodded, "Yes, I don't know if I should tell you. It wasn't bad, I just don't know if I'm ready."

"Ready for what?"

She got up and left him on the ground. She walked over to the bike and pulled on the jacket she just bought. He watched as she kept her back to him and got up, grabbing his cut. He shrugged into it and then walked up to her, turning her to face him. "Talk to me."

"He said you remind him of JT when you're with me." she whispered.

She watched the emotions play on his face before he smiled. "Good, that means I'm doing something right."

"I don't understand, Jax."

He kissed her and pulled back. "It means he can tell how I feel about you, Candice."

She tilted her head to look at him. "And how do you feel, Jackson?"

He tilted her face so she had to look in his eyes. "I knew before yesterday but when Kenny showed up at the shop and you were so fucking scared; I didn't know what to do. I was so damn scared for what would happen to you that when he made that comment about you and him, I saw red. No one but me gets to touch you, make you scream like I did last night, ever again, baby. I love you."

He watched as tears came to her face and used his thumbs to wipe them as they fell. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. "I love you, too."

He barely heard it, but smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. How he got so damn lucky was beyond him, but he knew he couldn't fuck it up...too much was riding on it.

When she calmed down, she looked up at him. "Kenny scared me too, baby. Harry said you met dad and I told him I didn't wanna know."

Jax chuckled and kissed her forehead, "Alright, you don't know. Let's get home before I say fuck it and make love to you on the ground."

She nodded, "Okay, I'd probably let you at this point."

She laughed as he groaned and put on her helmet. He strapped his and then got on, helping her get behind him. He got settled and looked at her, "Let's get home so I can get you out of those clothes."

He watched her eyes get big as the shudder went through him. He kissed her hands once more before they wrapped themselves around his waist and took off for home.

Alright, here's another. I don't know if I will have one more or not as I will be watching Ryan Hurst's new show on TNT, King and Maxwell. Check it out at 9pm Mondays! Thank you in order for primesgirl4, Shantigal, MUWD'Bellegirl, Legolas'girl31, BigTimeGleekBtr, Cappiesgirl23, Nikki9235, awprncss4386, and mandi-chick00 for the reviews. Keep them coming!-Brianna