Sorry, it's been a while since I posted. The school year has been a tough one, and I just finished moving. I'll try to post more regularly not that I'm settled in.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it.

The dry air was making it hard to breathe, "Jax where are we?"

He took her hand and led her down a worn hiking path surrounded by overgrown plants, "We're going to one of my favorite places. I used to come here a lot when I was younger."

Alright. Thoughtful idea and special place.

A good sign.

He held her hand as they walked further and further away from where he had parked. If it weren't for the occasional hiker walking back she would have thought she was being taken to a pre-dug grave.

Nearly twenty minutes later she was huffing and puffing with a stitch in her side while he looked right as rain.

Damn him for looking hot while she was sure she looked like she just ran from New York.

Her huffing and puffing was ringing loud and clear around them.

He smiled at her and it melted her insides, "Just a little further. I promise."

"This better be good, Jax. I don't exercise for just anyone." Or ever really, but he didn't need to know that.

He rolled his eyes and before she could retort he said, "I'm honored, now close your eyes."

She did as she was told and felt his hand cover her face. His palm was rough and as he guided her to their special location she couldn't help but imagine his hands in other places.

He turned her a little before resting his head on her shoulder, "Open."

In front of her was a massive field on the edge of a drop-off. Wilderness surrounded them with beautiful shades of greens, blues, and yellows. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"Thank you." It was all she could muster. It was the most thoughtful thing someone had done for her in a long time, minus the painful hike.

"I used to come here all the time when my dad was gone. Ma has a habit of being..."

She laughed, "Overwhelming? Overpowering, or demanding?"

A slanted grin took over his face, "Yeah, you're right, but what can I do she's my mom."

"You're right but this isn't about my mom," he waved his hand as if to wave away the topic, "this isn't about my mom," he took her hand, "I want to know why I can't stop thinking about you."

"I'm sure it's just because I'm crazy." She didn't know why. As much as they acted like her pussy was golden, it wasn't. She wasn't even that experienced with it.

"I think it's because you're so much like us. I like that you're not gonna freak out when we come home covered in blood, or with a few extra bodies."

"As long as it's not your blood," she paused, "but if it is I can do some half-decent stitches."

That made him laugh. The sound was mesmerizing. Deep and sensual.

It wasn't a lot but Jax had given her a piece of himself.

"Were you always into…"

"...murder?" She tried to fill in

"No, not that but…" he looked at her pleadingly, "I don't know what to call it. That stuff you were doing with Happy when we found you having sex."

"Oh, that… It's called CNC."

"What is that? Dumb it down for me."

"Well, we talked about everything before we did it. I told him how to do it and we had a safe word just in case."

"A safe word?"

"Yeah, it was red. If he ever did something I didn't like I would say it and he would stop."

"What if he didn't stop?"

Velia laughed softly, "He would end up under the ground. I explained that and I kept my protection with me."

"Okay…" he looked at her for a long moment in silence, "...why do I like it?"

"It gives me control again."

Jax took her hands and looked her in the eyes, "Control?"

She nodded, an uncomfortable feeling filling her from the pit of her stomach. The topic was bound to come up eventually but it was never something she was excited to talk about.

His voice was rough now and filled with something she didn't understand, "Can you tell me?"

Her throat was tight, "It happened a long time ago..."

Jax pulled her onto his lap and squeezed her, "Take your time."

"When I was fifteen a man at my father's company came to talk business. At first, he was really nice and seemed friendly."

She took a deep breath, "He came over a lot. ALways when they were there. He would bring me presents and tell me jokes. A few months later he came over when everyone was gone. He said he wanted to wait for them so I let him in…"

He gripped her tightly and rocked her, "Stop… I can't…"

Velia nodded. It was hard to listen to, her parents wouldn't let her finish telling them after it happened.

"When you do that with Happy it makes you feel in control?"

"Yeah. I always know what's gonna happen…"

"Okay. One more, is he dead?"

"Yes," she whispered, "I watched as Sasha slit his throat."

"That's all I needed to know."

They sat together in silence for a long time before his phone rang, "Hey ma. What do you need?"

Jax's arms tightened around her as he spoke and she couldn't help but relax.

"Does it need to be now?" he listened before nodding, "Alright, I'll see you soon."

"You have to go?"

"Yeah. Ma needs me on a run for the shop,"

He stood up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They walked in silence back the way they came and even though she couldn't see it she could feel the connection growing between them.

His bike was waiting for them and she hoped he would take a long way back so she could stay wrapped around him for a while longer.

When she was seated behind him he squeezed her hand, "Wait for me at the shop? I wanna do one more thing with you tonight."

Floored she nodded, "Sure, I can wait around."

He took off, turning down a different route than they had taken there. She didn't even care because he kept a hand on hers while he drove.

The garage was packed when they pulled in. Bikes lined the edge of the lot and cars were filling the lifts.

Gemma popped out from the office and gave Jax a peck on the cheek and a stack of papers, "Car is on Elm Drive. Hurry back, I want it taken care of before we close."

He nodded and turned to Velia before leaving, "Wait around inside. I'm sure one of the girls can get you a drink and I think Ope is around her somewhere."

"If he is, I'll find him." She gave him a wink and watched him walk-off

His ass is damn fine.

"He got it from me."

Velia blushed and looked at Gemma, "What?"

Gemma laughed and tugged her toward the office, "His ass, he gets it from me."

The boys smiled and waved as they entered. Gemma sat her at the bar, "Where'd he take you? The cliff?"

She nodded, her heart dropping, "Yeah we hiked up there and chatted for a while."

"He takes all the girls up there. Has since he was fifteen."

"Ahh. It is beautiful up there."

She nodded, "Yeah it is. Relax a little, all the girls he brings up there last a few years. Don't worry."

As Gemma talked her mind wandered a thousand miles a minute.