Apologies for the long wait, life, work yada yada.
24 hours of freedom
"Jax told me what you did." Tara blurted out while handing Harlowe a mug of coffee, the morning after her release.
Happy dropped her off bright and early at the Teller residence when he was needed for club business with Jax. They still had to discuss just what was happening between them. By the time they'd arrived to the apartment Happy had secured for her, she was dead on her feet. She'd looked around for mere seconds before crawling into bed. Happy slept on the couch, the man offering before she even asked.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Tara asked when Harlowe stayed silent.
"It wasn't important."
"On what planet is that not important?" She scoffed, leaning against the kitchen counter with crossed arms. "You stayed inside that hellhole for me."
"Yeah well..." Harlowe muttered, shrugging a bit. "A few months is nothing to the years I could've had left."
"Still."
"Stop." Harlowe shook her head. "It's what I said I was going to do. I keep my word."
Tara picked up her youngest son as he wander in from napping. "Hey kiddo. You sleep good?"
"Ungry."
"You're hungry huh?" She asked, rubbing his belly while putting him in a booster seat next to Harlowe. "I'll make you breakfast while you visit with Auntie Lowe."
Harlowe rolled her eyes at the title but smiled at the kid nonetheless. "He looks like you."
"Yeah, it's kinda uncanny." Tara glanced over at her son. "His brother is his father's clone. I'm dreading his teens."
Picking up a fallen sippy cup, Harlowe chuckled, "uh yeah, I doubt you can tame a Son's son."
They lulled into a silence until Tara joined her at the table, sliding a plate of muffins to the center.
"How's things with Happy?"
"How'd I know you were going to ask that shit." Harlowe huffed, picking up a muffin. "Just because we're out here doesn't mean the rules don't apply. I don't wanna talk about it."
"Come on, Harls." Tara sipped her coffee, her eyebrows raised. "Have you talked?"
"No." Harlowe growled, setting her mug down with a loud thump. She grimaced as the kid startled at the sound. "Sorry."
"Why not?"
"I was sleep walking last night by the time we got there. I'm still on lights out time."
"Yeah. That was an adjustment."
"Yeah, try it after a dozen years. I ended up on the floor, the bed was too soft."
"Seriously?"
"I..." Harlowe paused, her jaw tightening and eyes burning at the sudden emotional tsunami. "I uh.. kept feeling like I was sinking... couldn't breath in all those covers."
"Oh." Tara murmured, her hands cupping her mug. "So when you talk, what're you gonna tell him?"
Harlowe picked at the muffin on her plate, her throat suddenly dry. "I love him... I still do but."
She hesitates, her eyes prickling painfully. "I don't know if I can let myself be with him. After everything... I can't risk being involved with the club."
"It's better now, it's legitimate business, yeah it porn but they aren't running guns anymore."
"They'll always be a target, the law doesn't give a shit if they aren't in the game anymore. They'll pin anything they can, fake or otherwise. It's how it works and there's always collateral damage."
Tara frown, her eyes drifting to her son. "You're scared?"
Her first urge was to deny it, to puff up and play the hardened criminal but the panic rising up in her throat couldn't be contained. "Yeah." She croaked, her hands tightening into fists.
"Harlowe, that won't happen again. I can promise you these guys protect their own."
"They can't stop the law."
"Happy would get you into Canada or Mexico before they could touch a hair on your head."
"I thought he would before but there was nothing he could do."
"Because of his corrupt president."
"Aren't they all?" Harlowe scoffed but sunk into her chair at Tara's glower.
"No." She snapped, "they aren't."
"Sorry." Harlowe sighed, scrubbing her face. "Just past shit. I shouldn't take it out on the pretty boy."
"He's not bad, I don't agree with him hiding the fact that you were sitting in that hellhole for me but it was to get me home to these guys."
"Yeah, well. You're welcome and shit, now can we not talk about things."
"Fine but all I'm saying is you need to get to know each other again. Learn to trust each other."
"I trust him with my life but some things are just out of his control." Harlowe muttered, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Look, I've never wanted to be involved in the club. I hated my mother-in-law's constant harping on the brotherhood and the role of an old lady. Everything it stood for wasn't my life. I was a pediatric heart surgeon, I wasn't some biker bitch."
Tara cleaned up her son's messy hands as she spoke. "I wanted out, I was planning on taking the kids and running. I started making plans after I got arrested for that shit, me and Jax were on the outs and everything was crumbling around us."
"How'd you end up staying?"
"A whole lot of shit but in the end, Jax got the club clean of the poison killing it. I never thought I'd say it, but the club really is family now to me."
"Ya know your ol' lady ain't what I was expecting." Tig commented, taking a sip of his beer while watching Happy take a shot at the pool table. The clack of the cue ball filled the silence as Happy kept his mouth shut. He watched them sink into the corner and side pocket before aiming for his next shot.
"Yeah." Juice chimed in from the barstool against the wall. "I was picturing somethin' different."
"I mean you always go for blondes." Tig drawled on, taking his own shot as Happy glared back at him. "Big titted Barbie dolls, the dumber the better."
"S'pose tha's why boys." Chibs jumped into the conversation as he sauntered over with a croweater under his arm.
Happy's jaw clenched at the Scotsman, his eyes darkening as the man nailed it on the head. Every croweater or one nightstand he fucked was the exact opposite of his old lady. He never went for the petite brunettes; they reminded him of everything he'd lost. His hookups didn't need to be smart or remotely interesting because they were just warm bodies to him.
"He already ha' the cream o' the crop, boys." Chibs slurred, his scars deepening as he grinned. Happy ground his teeth, his hand tightening around the pool cue until the wood creaked.
"Easy, boys." Jax drawled, sauntering over with a easy grin. "You want Hap to kick your ass's already? Party ain't even started yet."
The sound of the door opening and slamming shut brought the group's attention to the women entering the clubhouse. Happy's throat dried out and his hand ached with how hard he gripped the pool stick in his fist.
"Holy shit." Juice muttered behind him, the collective grunts around him turning his blood to liquid fire.
"Looks like the girls went shopping." Jax rasped, his eyes sliding down his own wife's body.
Harlowe wore a skirt that should be illegal in all fifty states, the hemline hitting just below her ass. The long line of her legs ending in a pair of fuck me heels. The thin material of her top was stretched across her breasts, which were pushed up by the black lace bra peaking out of the deep plunging shirt.
"Fuck me." Happy cursed under his breath when her eyes found his, the heavier makeup making the soft green pop. Her lips were slick looking, the red perfectly painted on. Happy wasn't sure how he was going to keep his hands to himself with her body on such enticing display.
"I think that's what they were goin' for, brotha." Jax rasped next to him, smacking Happy on the shoulder with a toothy grin.
"You sure this isn't too much." Harlowe huffed, looking down at her skirt and tighter than normal top. Her feet were in a pair of pointy black heels that made her legs seem miles long. It wasn't even something she would've worn in her twenties, let alone approaching forty. Harlowe was pretty sure she looked like she was trying too hard.
"Nope." Tara smirked, glancing over as they approached the clubhouse. "I don't normally meddle, it's more Gemma's style but I don't think there's anything Happy won't do for you when he sees you like this."
"God you're relentless."
Tara flashed her smile before pulling the door open to lead Harlowe inside.
She felt his eyes on her immediately, the pitch colored irises scorching a slow pass down her body. Harlowe noticed his gaze focusing on several spots before landing on her face, his bottom lip pulled into his mouth thoughtfully.
Tara murmured, "I think he's drooling."
"Shut up." Harlowe huffed, her cheeks heating at the look on her old man's face.
Happy shoved the pool cue in his hand into the chest of a man with tattoos on his head, as he swaggered over to her. His chin tipped to Tara before his stepped up close Harlowe, his eyes sliding down her body again.
"Hey." She murmured, tilting her head back as he moved another step into her space. His scent filling her nose and the heat coming off his broad chest caused her skin to flush.
"Hey." Happy rasped, his body swaying closer as he placed a large hand on her hip. "You look good, Lowe."
"Yeah?" she asked, her own hand coming to rest on his stomach.
"Yeah." His voice was gruff and hot against her temple as he lay his lips there for a moment. "Jack and coke?"
Harlowe hummed in response and followed his lead to the bar, his arm draped over her shoulders. Her hand slid beneath his kutte, her palm resting on his lower back with such familiarity her heart clenched. It may have been a different clubhouse but it felt like old times hanging out with his SAMTAC brothers.
"I see you ladies had fun today." Jax greeted, kissing his wife with a smirk.
Tara chuckled as he gave her a dramatic once over. "Yeah, well I hadn't been shopping in a while, I figured Harls could use some clothes that actually fit her."
"Think you forgot half of it at the store." Happy grumbled under his breath, his hand sliding down to her hip to pull her between the bar and him. She smirked as he blocked her body from the other men's eyes.
"Just say thank you, Hap." Jax quipped, his smug smile making Harlowe roll her eyes.
Poe entered the clubhouse soon after the girls arrived and the group found themselves reminiscing about the old days. Harlowe was sitting next to Happy, his body still angled towards her to shield her from his brother's wandering eyes. His glare was heavy and threatening, the toothpick in his mouth chewed down to a nub.
"So Happy never told us how you two met." Ratboy voiced from behind the bar, his eyes widening as Happy's dark eyes turned on him.
Harlowe snorted, taking a sip of her beer, "Why am I not surprised?"
The men chuckled at her dry comment, everyone knowing Happy wasn't one to share personal shit with anyone.
Happy's hand rest heavy on her neck, his thumb brushing along her skin. She tilted her head towards him and smirked as his scowled.
"Don't encourage them." He rumbled, throwing back a shot.
"He just doesn't want you boys to know he played knight in shining armor the first night they met." Poe taunted with a grin.
"Oh man, I gotta hear this story." Tig crooned, rubbing his hands together.
"Shuddup." Happy grumbled next to her, his eyes narrowing as his brothers hassled Poe for details. Harlowe smirked at him before rising from her seat. "I'm gonna hit the bathroom while Poe embarrasses you."
"Thanks a lot." He growled as she sauntered away with Tara.
"Just because you're out doesn't mean he's done with me." The bleach blonde sneered, her painted lips curled up meanly.
The words were thrown at her as they'd exited the hallway, Harlowe and Tara stopping in front of the slurring blonde. She was in something even more risqué than Harlowe's getup, her giant breasts nearly hanging out of the bottom of crop top.
"Candy, don't." Her friend hissed, grabbing the blonde's wrist as she got in Harlowe's face.
She was taller than Harlowe by a couple inches, her hooker heels giving her leverage. Her tank top was thin and skirt short, the woman's outfit leaving nothing to the imagination.
Harlowe felt a slow rolling heat run through her veins at the statement, her fists turning to lead weights. She wanted to put them through the tanned bitch's front teeth but she restrained herself until the croweater spoke again.
"He'll be beggin' for my pussy by next month."
Harlowe's control snapped at the claim, her hand lashing out to grab a handful of blonde extensions. She twisted Candy's arm behind her back while slamming her face first into table. The woman screamed out, her hands and legs flailing as she was shoved off balance. Harlowe placed an elbow across the women's shoulders and pressed the croweater to the flat surface, her free hand snatching a fork off an abandoned plate.
"You should really consider who you're speaking to." The ex-con growled, placing the metal object below Candy's eye. The woman was trembling underneath Harlowe, her eyes wide and panicked.
The room was deadly silent suddenly, but she could hear feet shuffling closer. Harlowe figured she had only a few seconds before the men broke up what was nearly transpiring. She wasn't about to do anything but she knew what she needed to do to put the club whores in their place. It was just like prison, they needed to know they weren't to fuck with her.
"I could take you out with this fork and not one person here would stop me." Harlowe spoke coldly, her voice not raising a decibel. "You think you'd be my first? You think I was sitting pretty in a cell for thirteen years. I've done things that would make you piss your crotchless panties."
Harlowe twisted her arm just enough to make her yelp in pain.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Yes you are." She rasped, pressing the fork just a little closer to making her whine. "You're a sorry piece of trash who thinks their loose pussy and fake tits are enough to hold a man like Happy but you're sorely mistaken. You tell all your little skank friends. Hands. Off. You got me? You sluts so much as think about touching what's mine and I'll shove this fork through your fucking skull. You got me, cunt?"
The croweater could only dip her chin in agreement, the fist Harlowe had curled in her hair and the sharp object below her eyeball, keeping her frozen solid.
"Lowe." Happy rasped nearby, his shape filling her peripheral. "It's done."
Harlowe flicked her eyes to his dark gaze, the man eating up the sight of her manhandling the trashy girl. She wasn't sure if he meant her aggression or his whoring ways but regardless she relaxed her grip.
Harlowe pulled the fork away from Candy's eye before slamming it into the table, the sharp prongs buried into the wood a few inches from the girl's face.
"I'm gonna need you to say it." Harlowe rasped at the women, her eyes still on Happy.
"I..I g-got y-you." The blonde stammered.
Harlowe stepped away and walked towards Happy, anger still needling the underside of her skin. She wanted to smack the hell out of him for sleeping with such vapid whores, but also consume his mouth to mark her territory. Behind her the woman stumbled away, one of her friends collecting her to leave for the night.
Happy's hand gripped Harlowe's hip before she knew what was happening, her old man tugging her against his broad chest. She could feel how much he liked the show, his dick hard against her stomach.
"What's mine?" He repeated her words, his voice impossibly low and hoarse. Harlowe tipped her chin up and murmured, "Problem?"
Happy cracked a rare grin and squeezed her ass possessively. "Never."
Harlowe smirked as he turned around and all but hauled her out of the clubhouse bar. She heard some wolf whistles following their departure but focused on staying upright in the pointy heels.
Harlowe pulled him to a stop when Happy tried to lead her into one of the dorm rooms. She shook her head, "I'm not fucking you on some mattress you fucked that whore on."
Happy's jaw tightened at her statement, his hand pulling her forward. "It's clean sheets."
"I don't care."
Growling under his breath, Happy tugged her further down the hall and into a surprisingly clean bathroom. Harlowe bit her lip as he shut the door and flipped the lock with a loud snap. His eyes were sliding down her body like slow moving molten lava.
"You're fucking sexy." He rasped, his steps forward matching with her steps back. She smirked as he growled at her retreat.
"The outfit or the yard aggression?" Harlowe asked, her cheeks heating as he cornered her against a wall.
"Both." Happy's voice was rough, the gravelly feel of it giving her goose bumps. Harlowe wasn't sure if it was just the booze or all the reminiscing but she wanted him. She wanted him just as badly as she had all those years ago.
"Hap." Her voice broke and her eyes fluttered at the tight grasp of his familiar hands.
"Fuck." He growled against her neck, his body pressing her into the wall. "Lowe."
"I need…."
"I got you, baby." Happy rumbled, his hand dropping to cup her core and rub her through her panties.
"Hap." She gasped as her body became a live wire from the firm pressure. Her hands grabbed onto his neck and shoulder when her legs buckled.
His fingers tangled into her hair and pulled her head back to kiss her, his other hand sinking into her panties.
Happy swallowed her deep moan, as she contained his own hungry growl at her tight, wet walls. His fingers pumped into her as his thumb swirled firm circles on her clit.
"Fuck." She gasped, her head tilted back giving Happy her neck to devour. It was like old times, the man knowing just where to go and what to do.
"Baby, you're soaked."
"M'Hap."
"That's it." His voice was hot against her neck, his teeth nipping along the soft skin. "Cum, sweetheart."
Harlowe's body obeyed, her legs slamming shut around his thrusting fingers. Her pussy clenched and fluttered while he continued to stroke her, his eyes holding her gaze.
"Beautiful." He murmured, kissing her forehead, temple and cheek before landing on her lips. Harlowe moaned as he slid his hand from under her skirt, his tongue invading her mouth greedily.
Happy backed her into the counter, his fingers digging into the curves of her asscheeks. Her skirt was shoved up to her waist as he sat her on the edge. His thick fingers curled into the thin band of her panties before the damp lace was dragged down her legs. She stared into his pitched colored eyes as his rough palms skimmed her outer legs before gripping the backs of her knees. His gaze only left her face when he spread her thighs, a rough growl emanating from his broad chest at the sight.
Harlowe gasped as he dropped to his knees and buried his face into her lap. His hot wet mouth kissed her bare core. His tongue curling through and around every inch.
"Hap." She moaned, her hands gripping the counter and the back of his head. Her mouth dropped open as he sucked and nibbled her greedily. The deep knot inside her tightening with every flick and rough pass.
Happy growled hungrily as he ate her, his fingers curled into the pale flesh of her thighs. He pushed her legs up and open, flinging one over his shoulder to free a hand. Harlowe's head flew back as his finger sunk inside her. He gave her the briefest of warm ups before he was squeezing a second inside.
"Fuck." Harlowe groaned, her fingers digging into the back Happy's neck at the overwhelming sensation after cumming moments before.
"Relax." He murmured before licking her clit lazily as he slowly rubbed her inner walls. She took several slow breathes before gasping at his explorations.
"That's it." Happy rasped deeply, his black eyes watching her from between her thighs. His hand moved faster, his fingers curling up and in, setting off a steady pulsing heat. The sounds of wet flesh were barely covered by her throaty moans as she gushed. Everything felt just as good as it always had with Happy.
"Cum, baby." Happy murmured, sucking her aching clit into his mouth. Thrusting his fingers deep and hard.
"Oh god." Her voice reverberated off the tile walls and floor. Her body spasmed in Happy's arms, her legs tightening around his neck. She could tell her nails bit into the back of his neck and skull, crescent imprints left behind.
Happy rose swiftly to his feet, his hands cupping her face to kiss her sloppily. His lips and cheeks were damp from her core, the smell of her smeared across his skin. At one time she was embarrassed when he did it but realized quickly that he enjoyed doing it. He also liked to make her taste afterwards.
"Taste just as good." His hoarse voice was hot against her chest as his hand tugged the front of her shirt down far enough to see the translucent lace push up bra. His teeth nipped along the edge before he pulled it down to free her breast. A warm slick tongue circled her perky tit, his mouth covering it completely. The intense suction had her writhing and clenching in anticipation.
Harlowe unbuckled his belt, her fingers tugging open his jeans as he sucked on her breast. She was panting against his neck, her teeth nipping the hot skin and her tongue tasting the salty surface.
"Get inside me." She moaned, her hands struggling to push the fabric out of the way. Happy helped her instantly, his larger hands shoving his jeans and boxers down just enough to expose his dick. Harlowe watched as he aimed with one hand as his other spread her open.
"Look at me." He growled as he pushed inside her.
Harlowe's mouth dropped open and her skin flushed hot. She stared at him as he sunk into her insistently, only to pull out to the cusp. The dramatic sensation of being filled and suddenly vacant was repeated over and over, her walls clinging to him whenever he returned.
"Jesus." He growled into her neck, his fingers curling into the backs of her thighs as he pumped between her legs. "So tight, Lowe. Damn."
"Happy." Harlowe's head was thrown back as the tension he'd ratcheted up inside her broke. Her fingers curled into his ribs, pulling him close enough to kiss. His mouth invaded hers, his tongue sweeping inside as moans filled her throat. His hips snapped harshly between her spread legs, his dick sinking hard and deep until he followed her over that precarious edge.
"Fuck." The word was growled into her ear, before Happy's teeth bit into the meat of her shoulder.
All she could hear was the heavy drum of her heartbeat and the rough breaths they were both panting.
"Damn." He muttered gruffly, his large hand coming up to brush the sweaty hair back from her forehead. "Tryin' to kill me?"
Harlowe huffed out a laugh, her eyes bright and lips swollen from his kisses. "Never."
Happy leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers, kissing her vigorously. His hands buried in her hair and gripping her jaw.
"Love you." He rasped against her tender lips, his breath hot on her skin. Harlowe peered up at him, her hands curled into his T-shirt. She took in the softness in his eyes, the dark gaze hesitant as he waited for her response.
Harlowe slid her hand up his stomach to rest on his chest as she spoke, "I love you too, Hap."
"You gonna stay then."
Her mouth opened but she didn't know what to say, she was still unsure what she wanted. She didn't even know who she was.
"I don't know."
Happy's jaw rocked back and forth as he chewed on his response. He pulled back to get dressed, leaving Harlowe to slide off the counter on limp legs. They both were dressed shortly, Harlowe watching as Happy's walls raised, brick by brick.
"Hap, wait." She grabbed his wrist as he went to leave without another word.
"No." He grunted, his eyes flashy hot. "Not if you don't know."
"I've been out for like forty eight hours, Hap. Gimme a break." Harlowe snapped, her cheeks now flushing from anger rather than lust. "I think I deserve some goddamn time to find right side up."
The sharp tone did nothing to smother his obvious anger but they did stop his departure.
"I don't know who I am anymore, Hap. How do I shake off a decade of conditioning to keep others away from me? How do I stop looking over my shoulder and sleeping with one eye open? I'm not the same person I was when I went inside and I can't be the person I was inside, so who the fuck am I?"
His shoulders dropped as she stared back at him completely exposed, the total emotional upheaval blatant in her shadowed eyes and tense posture.
"I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going or if I'm going."
He tensed up but she reached out and gripped his forearm and spoke earnestly, her green eyes soft and wide open. "But I do know that I love you. It's the only thing I do know."
Harlowe leaned into his chest and felt his hand sink into her hair at the base of her skull. His fingers curled into it as he brushed his thumb along her jaw. She rested her chin in his calloused palm as he tilted her head up.
She felt her heartbeat speed up the longer he peered into her eyes, his penetrative stare twisting up her insides. The man always had the ability to make her squirm with a look.
"You tell me if you're leaving. Don't just disappear." He rasped after a long silent moment.
"I will."
Happy pulled her closer and kissed her roughly on the mouth before asking, "You hungry?"
She smirked, patting him on the stomach. "The pit's empty huh?"
"Always."