Apologies for the wait! I'm not too sure when there will be another update with Christmas coming up but I will try my best. Thanks for the reviews, follows etc :)
Away - Chapter 15
His hands were everywhere. They sought out more and more of the woman beneath him. Even when he found one supple, tantalising piece of flesh, he quickly moved on to another. The need to touch her, to consume and ravage her, was driving him insane. No matter how many times he had found himself inside of her during the last two days, it had done nothing to sate his appetite; the urge would always return and like a slave trying to please its master, Jax complied with his desires and buried himself so deeply into the woman he loved that he felt that there would never be an end to it.
The two lovers had spent their romantic getaway in an almost constant state of undress and through all of the glorious, orgasmic delight, Jules had been suppressing a nagging doubt. It was too easy. All of it. Jax's love was too easy. Leaving Charming, even if it were for just a short time, was too easy. Escaping the reach of SAMCRO was too easy. She was waiting for the penny to drop whilst simultaneously wishing that it never would.
"Jax…" Jules breathed, her voice catching in a whimper as a delicious soreness began to set in.
He kept her pinned to the bed with the weight of his body. His hips set an unrelenting pace that exhausted the pair of them, but still he continued to thrust into her. Their mutual pleasure was his only goal and so he ignored the breathless words of his lover; diving into the crook of Jules' neck and nibbling softly at the skin he found there.
"Jax… stop." Whispered Jules, not entirely sure whether she truly wanted him to or not, as her hands splayed across the bottom of his back and her nails dug deep into the skin.
A hiss left Jax's mouth at the sudden sting of nails biting into his sensitive flesh and it spurred him on. The heavy moans of the woman on he back, the tingle of excitement that tickled every nerve ending in his body, everything he felt as he plunged further into Jules proved to be too much and with one final push and the sound of his name being groaned sinfully into his ear, Jax emptied himself into his girlfriend. His body convulsed and when he eventually stilled, he pulled carefully out of her and lay his head on her chest. One hand wiping the sweat off her face and the other playing with Jax's tangled mess of dirty blonde hair, Jules focused on catching her breath and when she could finally speak again, it was a chuckle that came out.
"What's so funny?"
"I was just thinking about Gemma."
Jax propped himself up on one elbow and frowned at Jules. "We just made love and you're thinking about my mom?"
"No." She stammered. "I just meant that if you carry on screwing me like that then I really will end up knocked up by the end of the summer."
Relieved, Jax rolled his eyes and grinned. "That's the plan, darlin'. I want you pregnant and barefoot."
Smacking him playfully, Jules shook her head in disbelief before pushing the man off her; not an easy feat considering his height and defined muscles. She headed for the shower before he could stop her. An hour later, with her damp hair hanging down her back in a loose braid, Jules was sat on the back of Jax's motorcycle barrelling down the highway as they made their return journey back to Charming. They came to a stop just on the outskirts of the town, some time later, and Jules took off her helmet when she felt Jax cut the engine. They were surrounded by open fields, the grass yellowing from the constant summer heat, and the young woman took the opportunity to drink the water from her bag and quench her unrelenting thirst. She was returning the now empty bottle to her bag when she spotted Jax coming back from the spot a few feet down the road, where he had headed to silently a couple of minutes before with his phone in hand.
Instantly, a sickening feeling washed over her when she saw the concern on her boyfriend's face. His shoulders were tense and his eyes were brewing like a storm.
"Have you checked your messages?"
"No." She started, rummaging in her bag for her phone. "I switched it off -"
"There's something you need to know." Jax admitted, rubbing his chin and avoiding her gaze.
"What's going on, Jax?"
"I should have told you when it happened - I meant to tell you. I just wanted us to have something good before more shit came our way."
Fingers grasping at the familiar shape of metal and plastic, Jules pulled out her phone but was stopped from checking it when Jax placed his hand over hers and looked gravely at her.
"You're scaring me." Jules mumbled, her face paling.
"You should hear this from me. Not Clay."
Waiting impatiently, she reluctantly put the phone back and dismounted the motorcycle.
"The crew working on the warehouse… they found Richie's body."
He saw the transformation instantly. Her golden skin lost its colour. Her green eyes were devoid off their carefree sparkle and her slender frame became stiff like a statue. Jax had expected her to react hysterically. To shout or cry or even blame him for not disposing of the body more permanently. To his surprise, Jules stared straight into his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"What does this mean?' she said through gritted teeth, fighting to remain composed.
"It means we keep our heads down and our mouths shut. The Club will deal with this."
"This isn't Club business, Jax! I'm the one who killed him!"
"Hey!" Yelled Jax, taking Jules' face in his hands before lowering his voice and pressing his forehead to hers. "Listen to me, this is Club business now. We'll take care of it. Nothing is going to happen to you. So just do what we tell you and I promise that everything will be fine."
"And if one of you goes down for his murder? What if you go to prison? I can't live with that, Jax."
"Everything will be fine. You'll be safe!."
"You don't know that!"
By now, the anxious young woman was pacing back and forth, wearing a tread into the tarmac. Her hands pulled at the roots of her hair and the pain allowed her to centre herself and focus. The time she had spent with Richie had been one of turmoil and drama. He had been overbearing and paranoid; taking any and every opportunity to degrade her and accuse her of being intimate with various members of SAMCRO. Ending their relationship had been the single best choice she had ever made and killing him to save Jax, even though it meant taking a human life, was something she had never regretted. Once the initial shock had worn off and she had come to terms with the horror she had committed, she found that she held no remorse or sadness over it. She had barely given a thought to it in so long that she had almost forgotten that it had happened. Until now. The ghosts of her past had been resurrected and they could possibly turn her life to ashes.
"You gotta trust me, darlin' or we're not going to get through this. Just let me handle it."
Jax pressed his mouth hard against Jules' and hugged her tightly. Her body was no longer relaxed and he could sense the happiness disappearing from her.
"How long have you known?" Jules asked, eerily calm.
He gulped before replying. "I found out the morning we left for our trip."
All Jules could do was laugh. It wasn't genuine, though. More like a forced bark of disappointment.
"So is this what the whole trip was about? What were you trying to do, Jax? Screw me into submission?"
She pushed him away as her anger got the better of her. Lies were bad but keeping secrets was worse and it had always been the downfall of their love.
"No!" Jax said, attempting to defend himself but making no move to get closer to an agitated and furious Jules.
"You had no right to keep this from me!"
"I didn't want to worry you! You've been through enough since coming back to Charming."
"That wasn't your decision to make, Jackson! You want us to get married and you can't even be honest with me!"
Having finally had enough of her tantrum, Jax surged forward and close the gap between them. He grabbed her arm by the elbow and kept his grip even when she tried to bat him away. Her eyes were blazing and the man knew that her anger at him was justified. Yet, that did not mean he would let her continue screaming at him.
"Clay didn't even want to tell you!" He spat, hating the betrayal he saw flash across Jules' face. "It was my call to tell you and I wanted to do it my way!"
"What the hell did you think was going to happen when we got home? People talk!"
"I was trying to figure out how to tell you. I screwed up, okay?!"
Shoving against her boyfriend with every ounce of strength in her body, she breathed with relief when she was free of his touch.
"And you thought this was the best way to tell me?!"
"No. I-" Jax started before being cut off.
"You should have told me so I could figure out a way to avoid going to prison!"
"You're not going to take the fall for this!"
"Yes I am!" She screamed back at him.
"No. You're not! Because I am!" Jax argued, his shoulders slumping in defeat and his face falling.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Leaning against the seat of his motorcycle, Jax exhaled and scratched his growing stubble. He stared down at the ground until Jules once again spoke his name and called his attention to her. Her hand was now placed gently on his bicep and she was standing between his legs.
"The FBI have been looking for me all morning. Gemma's been playing dumb but as soon as we got back to the Club house they're going to be on me."
"Jax, no…" Jules shook her head in denial.
"Listen to me. I'm going to sort this but if I do go down for this… don't wait for me. You got that? I don't want you wasting your life."
The slap was so unexpected that Jax stumbled when Jules' palm made painful contact with his cheek. He stood to his height and breathed through his nose as he grimaced through the pain. In front of him, his lover was glaring at him. She wore an expression of contempt and when she spoke, her voice came out strained and deathly quiet.
"If you ever say that to me again, Jackson Teller, I will kill you. Either we go down together or not at all. You got that?"
She was serious. Faced with the very real possibility that there could actually be an end for her and Jax, Jules was no longer concerned with whether or not she was 'Old Lady' material - whether or not Jax would keep his promise to remain faithful - but with ensuring that they would have a future in which to find joy and make mistakes.
Smirking, Jax nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."
Knocking back her third shot of tequila and motioning to the bartender to bring her another, Jules buried her head in her hands and rubbed her red, stinging eyes. She was sure she looked a state. When they had reached the Club House, the rest of the Club and Gemma were waiting for them. In attendance, too, were Unser and Hale along with a couple of FBI agents that Jules recognised as those who had interviewed her a couple of weeks previously. She had almost jumped off the back of the motorcycle and lunged at the female agent who was eyeing Jax like he was her prey and grinning smugly as she placed his wrists in handcuffs. If not for Chibs stopping her, she was sure she would be spending a night in the town's jail cell for assault.
The sound of glass connecting with wood make Jules look up and she thanked the bartender, ordered another drink whilst ignoring his judgemental glance, and drank the burning liquid in one gulp. Her chest ached. This, she knew, was not from the alcohol but from the forced separation she was enduring from the man she had loved for two years. She had managed to escape Chibs' clutches and had clung to Jax for as long as she could before he was pulled away and bundled into the back of the police car. Unser's pity had further broken her and she had refused to make any kind of contact with her former fiance when he tried to speak with her. Jax's last words to her were still ringing in her ears and she hoped they were true.
"Be back soon, darlin'"
Fingering the new shot of tequila that had appeared on the bar, the distraught woman slammed her phone down when she heard it vibrate next to the glass and saw that Gemma was calling her yet again. She had missed calls from everyone who was close to her in Charming and she had rejected each and every one. Swallowing the tequila, she did not bother to order another and struggled to her feet, swaying dangerously as the alcohol began to hit her. She declined the offer of the bartender to call her a cab and wobbled unsteadily towards the bathroom that she knew was off to the right and down the hall. Pushing through a small group of people who tutted her, she flipped them off and as a result, did not see who she had crashed into until it was too late.
The smile. That smug, triumphant smile. It was like a beacon calling to the long buried fighter in her. But she was not alone. Next to her, David Hale stood. He was gazing at Jules with sympathy but she noted, at least, that he had the decency not to look pleased with himself for arresting Jax.
"Miss Miller."
"Agent Stahl." Jules slurred.
"How much have you had to drink, Jules?" David asked, reaching out to touch her but withdrawing his hand when he was met with venom and resistance.
"Touch me and it will be the last thing you do."
"Threatening an officer is a serious offence. You don't want to end up like your… step-brother… do you?"
The tone of her voice was grating on Jules. She was only a few inches taller than her. Dressed smart. Pristine, honey blonde hair. An air of snobbery surrounding her. Even with the woman's gun and FBI training, Jules was sure she could take the arrogant woman in a fight; an option that was becoming more desirable as the seconds ticked by.
"Boyfriend. Actually. But I think you knew that."
"I thought you were engaged to Deputy Hale, here?" Agent Stahl said, grinning like a Cheshire cat as she revelled in the destruction she was causing.
Rising above as an image of Jax's face filled her head, Jules let out a steady breath and silently counted to ten.
"It's been a pleasure, Agent Stahl… and I'd love to stay and chat but you're a total bitch."
The way the other woman's face fell was immensely satisfying to Jules and she turned on her heel and walked away, but not before hearing Agent Stahl loudly addressing David.
"You had a lucky escape. She's poison and she comes from trash. Her jailbird boyfriend is finished and that father of hers is next."
Seeing red, Jules lunged for Agent Stahl and caught her off guard, sending the older of the two women flying and landing with a hard thwack against the wall. She was on her quicker than the strike of lightning and had one hand wrapped around the federal agent's slender neck; making her gasp for air as her face slowly reddened.
"You're not the first person to come for SAMCRO…"
"Jesus Christ, Jules! Get off her!" David yelled, trying and failing to pull her off as an audience began to gather.
"My family always survives. Me and Jax will always survive…" she punctuated her point by pressing harder on her victim's windpipe and smirking when the woman spluttered. "And some jumped up piece of shit with a hard on for the Club isn't going to change that."
"Jules!" She heard David shouting again, pulling at her waist now.
"My mom may have been just a crow eater but I'm Jax Teller's old lady. There's a damn good reason for that, so don't fuck with me."
"That's enough!"
David yanked with brute force and pulled Jules free from his fellow law officer. Even as Agent Stahl was coughing and wheezing as she sucked in precious oxygen, Jules refused to give up and carried on kicking out and reaching for the woman she seemed responsible for her separation from Jax. Her hair was wild and her eyes were gleaming with fury. Spittle escaped her mouth as she shrieked at David to let her go; hell bent on destroying Agent Stahl.
"You need to arrest her, Hale." Agent Stahl demanded, now standing fully and ushering onlookers away as she subtly massaged her burning throat and chest.
"She just needs to calm down. She'll be fine." He replied, finding it difficult to keep Jules restrained.
"She just attacked a federal agent… with witnesses!" She hissed. "Either you arrest her or I will."
His eyebrows furrowing, the deputy sighed and gave one curt nod before Agent Stahl smirked at the angry woman in his arms and walked away. As soon as she had disappeared, he was glad when he felt Jules relax somewhat so he tentatively loosened his grip and spun her around to face him.
"You know I have to arrest you, right?" He said, hating the idea immensely.
Jules scoffed, rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. "I don't care. Do whatever you want, David."
"Is this really how you want to live your life? Getting into fights in bars and getting drunk? Is being with Jax really worth it?"
Intentionally dismissing his questions, Jules held out her wrists for him to handcuff and was surprised when he shook his head and refused to do so. Instead, he took her gently by the elbow, eyes filled with sadness and silent in his disappointment, and led her out of the bar and into the back of his patrol car. When they reached the station, Jules was quiet as David scribbled briefly on a set of papers and made forced small talk with the on duty officer. She was led into a jail cell and when the door slammed shut, she kept her back to her former fiance.
"If anyone asks, I arrested you for drunk and disorderly."
The drunk woman stiffened when she heard him and realised that he was covering for her. There was a stilted tenderness to his voice and she could hear how weary and tired he was. Feeling sorry for him, she half turned and looked at him. She did not smile. There was no reason to.
"Thank you." She mumbled, not at all okay with knowing that she would owe him for this in the future.
"Jules…" His voice cracked. "When you're ready to come home, I'll be waiting for you.
It was a long, uncomfortable night of tossing and turning on a cold, metal bed with blankets that scratched her skin and offered no warmth. The jail cell had been cold in spite of the summer heat and when she woke, Jules' body ached from being scrunched up all night.
"Miller. Time to go." A portly officer with a scraggly beard and a red face was standing and holding the cell door open for her.
She was dragging her feet down the hall, head banging, eyes stinging, and her tongue covered in a disgusting layer of gunk from too much alcohol and a lack of available oral hygiene. She could feel the eyes of judgemental officers on her as she passed them so she sighed with relief when she spotted Unser at the end of the hall. The old man gave her a caring, sympathetic smile and greeted her with a hug.
"Hey, kiddo."
"Hey, Unser."
"Seems you got yourself into a right mess last night." He said with a smirk.
"The bitch deserved it."
"I don't doubt it." He whispered. "But if you want my advice, stay away from her. Jax needs you fighting his corner and you can't do that from a cell."
His gentle chastising getting through to her, Jules nodded and agreed with him, promising to try her best to stay out of any trouble that may come her way.
"How's Jax?"
The way Unser's forehead furrowed and his mouth tightened confirmed Jules' suspicions.
"You didn't hear this from me… they found blood on Richie's shirt. They're waiting for DNA but even with a rush job, it's still going to be a week or two before they know for sure who it belongs to."
"Then why have they arrested Jax?"
"They found a SAMCRO ring. You and Jax being together back then… Richie being your ex… they figure they have a motive." Unser paused as one of his fellow officers passed them in the hall. "They're going with the theory that Jax killed him over jealousy."
"That's ridiculous! Me and Richie weren't even together by then!"
"Calm down." He replied, holding onto Jules by her shoulders. "They can't hold him much longer and they don't have enough evidence to charge him."
Biting at her fingernails, Jules tried hard not to vomit as nerves consumed her. Every atom in her body was screaming in fear, and she was sure her feet were going to buckle from beneath her when a familiar voice called out to her and she lit up with vibrant relief.
"Jax!" She shouted, running to him as she saw him leave an interrogation room.
They embraced so strongly that it was difficult to identify where one ended and the other began. He smelled of sweat and his eyes were puffy and bloodshot from being awake all night. But his smile was infectious and even Unser found himself smiling at the two reunited lovers.
"Hey, darlin'. You okay?"
Kissing him in response, Jules clung to him like a dying man would to the last embers of life. Tears sprung in her green eyes and she purposefully steadied her breathing so that her voice would not break and betray her.
"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, I promise." Jax pledged, prying her off him and holding her face in his hands.
"Jax… do you still have that ring?"
review? I am also considering writing a story where Jax's brother is alive and a possible triangle with an OC. Let me know what you think :)