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General trigger warnings for this story: Language, smut, mentions of rape, mentions of drug use/overdose, violence/death.
CHAPTER 4: BLUE WEDDING
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It was a beautiful Saturday in mid-June and a SAMCRO wedding was in the midst: Bobby and his old lady Precious were finally tying the knot. The entire morning had been filled with chaos as all of the bridesmaids ran around Gemma's house frantically trying to get ready in time.
Once Sydney had finally finished off her own makeup after helping some of the other girls, she slipped into her dress. The dress was much more tasteful than she had expected: floor length with a sweetheart neckline and a stoned waistband, all in a beautiful shade of dark purple that made her green eyes pop like nobody's business. Precious had asked Sydney to be a bridesmaid almost directly after the two had met for the first time at Gemma's dinner, which she'd agreed to without a second thought - knowing that establishing her place among the new charter was of utmost importance, and a huge party was the perfect place to do it.
She had briefly wondered what it was that had actually made them want to get legally married - seeing that they had been together for quite some time now, already had kids, and fought constantly. But she knew that though anyone else would've found everything about this wedding completely bizarre - this was the life, and today was just another day in it.
Sydney sat herself down on the end of the bed with Jessica - her favorite croweater - giggling to each other as they watched Gemma play 'mother of the bride' to Precious. Besides the fact that the two women were the same age, but what made the scene before them even more amusing was the fact that the bride easily looked about ten years older than she actually was - thanks to the outdated crazy blonde hair, frail frame, and a past filled with drug use.
The two snickering girls looked up when they heard a wolf-whistle from the doorway, laughing even harder when they saw that it had come from Clay - watching Gemma roll her eyes and shake her head.
"Alright, everyone ready?" He asked, getting a chorus of affirmations from the giddy women who began filing out the door.
Sydney began her descent down the hallway after the rest of the bridal party, but she felt a strong hand holding her back by her elbow. She looked up with a crease in her forehead to see Clay standing over her, feeling panic fill her as all of the reasons that the President could be isolating her started to floor her mind.
"You're walkin down with Tig." He explained.
Sydney breathed a sigh of relief when it was revealed that the cornering had nothing to do with her immediate future in SAMCRO. "Your doing, or his?" She scoffed.
"Let's just say I'm helpin him out with what he's for some reason decided he's too chicken shit to do himself." He grinned.
"Being a chicken shit the usual for him?" She raised a brow, having a feeling that she knew the answer already.
"Never." He shook his head with a knowing smile.
Sydney hid her giddy smile from the intimidating man as he loosened his grip and led her down the hallway, out the door, and to the fully packed van where the rest of the women were waiting. Seeing that this was an MC wedding, there would be no limo or tuxedos - the bridal party was driven by Gemma, and the groom and his groomsmen would roll in on their Harleys.
After a twenty minute drive out to the remote Wahewa Reserve where Sydney learned that SAMCRO weddings were held - the van came to a halt and the door slid open to reveal the groomsmen waiting to escort their respective bridesmaids. Sydney couldn't help herself from the double take that she did when she saw Tig waiting for her outside of the van, somehow looking even sexier than usual in a crisp white button down underneath the worn leather of his kutte with the sleeves rolled up, exposing the toned forearms that she loved so much.
"Damn, pussycat..." He grinned as his bright blue eyes took her in, holding out his hand to her.
"You know, Sergeant." She took his hand shakily, letting him help her to the ground. "If you wanted me to be your date all you had to do was ask. I'm in need of some arm candy, the ambush was hardly necessary." She teased studiously to cover up the nerves as her stomach continued to flip and her legs felt no more stable on the ground then they had in the van.
Tig chuckled and shook his head, trying to think of something to say in response but all he could do was smile, dropping his hand once she was steady.
"You don't clean up too bad yourself." She flirted, refinding her confidence once she realized that he was just as nervous as she was.
Cleaning up nice was a massive understatement. Sydney always thought he looked like perfection in his roughness, but seeing him in a light coloured shirt that popped against his tanned skin with his hair freshly cut and a healthy dose of cologne was doing something to her on a whole new level as the temptation to sink her teeth into the vein on his neck tripled.
"Look more like your bodyguard." Tig snorted, looking down bashfully before his attention was jolted back in her direction when she reinitiated contact by reaching up to fix his shirt collar over his kutte.
"Haven't you heard, Tiggy? Hired muscle's hot." She cocked her brows and smiled smugly. "That's why you wear this, right?" Her tone changed - dropping much lower as she brushed her fingers along the 'Sgt. At Arms' flash on his chest, feeling his muscles tensing under her fingers even through the thick layers that he was wearing. She trailed her hand down his chest as she dropped it, making to pull away before he caught it.
"Nah, really doll... You look..." He lifted his hand and twirled her around, giving him a full view. "Wow." He said in awe as he blinked dramatically.
Sydney was the one looking down now as her cheeks flushed. "Think the groomsmen will like it?" She teased as she swayed with her bottom lip between her teeth.
"The groomsmen do like it." He winked. "But hey, if they don't appreciate it... You come back to me and I'll make you feel as good as you look." He raked over her with that animalistic stare.
Sydney felt her heart leap as she heard the familiar growl in his voice. "Don't be making promises that you can't keep now, Sergeant." She taunted.
Tig retorted with a deeply discerning look, giving her a chance to retract her call on his bluff, because that's exactly what it was - a bluff.
"You really think that you can handle me, Tiggy?" She challenged in a low tone.
"Nah darlin, the real question is: can you-" He took a step towards her. "Handle me?" Another step - bringing him dangerously close.
Before Sydney had time to think of a response in her flustered state, their heads whipped around to the sound of Gemma herding the wedding party in preparation to walk down the aisle.
As everybody got into their places, Sydney took some time to actually look around the acreage that had been decorated with strings of lights, a white aisle, a beautifully hand-carved altar, and matching white chairs. She was shocked at the magical scene before her, something that she never would've expected from a biker wedding.
Once everybody was where they were supposed to be before the ceremony could begin, Sydney found herself next to Tig at the beginning of the white train laid over the dirt, the close proximity not doing her self-control any favors as she inhaled his intoxicating scene with every breath. She felt herself beginning to tremble again - her body betraying her as her throat locked up and her chest became heavy. She did her best to contain herself and focus on her breathing as she wondered what the fuck this hold was that he had on her - trying not to cry, explode, puke, and throw herself at him all at the same time.
"You alright, pussycat?" Tig grabbed her hand to try and still the trembling that he could feel as her arm vibrated against his.
She attempted to answer confidently, but all she could manage was a nod as the physical contact only heightened her nerves - her hand trembling in his just like her body had been doing.
"I'm fine, Tiggy." She assured him when he squeezed her hand and narrowed his gaze.
"Nervous?"
"Something like that." She chuckled humorlessly.
Tig knew that she was being cryptic - but much to her gratitude, he let it go. "So, who's cryin tonight?" He threw his arm around her shoulders.
A devious half-smile formed on Sydney's face - the love that she had for their little made up games providing her an effective distraction. "Aside from every woman?" She raised an eyebrow, making him snort. "Hmmm... Jax, Chibs, Opie." She tapped her lower lip in serious contemplation.
"You sneaky little girl." He growled, shaking his head - but she could see the pride in his eyes, raising her brow questioningly. "Kids and failed marriages." He explained.
Sydney pursed her lips and nodded slowly, impressed with how easily he picked up on her strategy.
"Not me?" He asked tentatively.
The question took Sydney aback a little. She supposed that Tig did have kids and a failed marriage, but she hadn't at all considered the ruthless Sergeant to be the 'cries at weddings' type like some of the others.
Luckily, just as he asked the tough question - it was time for them to make their debut down the aisle, letting her off the hook as she smirked at him before snapping her head forward.
"Jax, Bobby, Ope, you." He whispered out of the side of his mouth, passing off the shit eating grin as excitement for the happy couple.
"Why me?" She asked in offense, trying to keep a presentable smile on her face.
"Don't remember questions bein part of the game, dollface." He smirked cockily, knowing that she couldn't react the way that she wanted in their current predicament.
Sydney could feel him working his way under her skin, realizing that he had made sure that she wouldn't have time to retort about how questions were perfectly fine when it was him asking them as they approached the end of the aisle.
"If I lose?"
Tig didn't answer, he just smiled a huge, evil smile before taking off in the opposite direction as they approached the altar.
Sydney stood in her place at the end of the line of bridesmaids as the ceremony dragged on - the vows almost having put her to sleep. She did her best not to make eye contact with Tig as he stared at her, keeping her mind occupied by mentlaly ticking off the rosters as the tears started rolling. Jax and Opie were easy - but she got worried when she realized that Chibs was already too drunk to be coherent enough for emotions. She silently cursed Bobby as he got choked up towards the end of his vows, pushing her towards defeat and causing the instinctive glance that she took towards Tig who had a raised brow and cocky smile waiting for her. She rolled her eyes just enough for him to notice, smiling when she saw him trying to contain a laugh.
The alcohol started flowing freely once the ceremony concluded - thank god - and Sydney was already feeling tipsy from the couple of glasses of Champagne and a few tequila shots that she'd downed during the toasts. It was looking like the night was going to end at a standstill as Chibs was already passed out as the emotional speeches wrapped up, but that was when the father-daughter dance started...
Sydney's heart dropped as Precious and her elderly father swayed across the dance floor, feeling the pinch behind her eyes as she thought about her own father - the unexpected event reminding her that she would never get to do something like this with him. She needed to get somewhere out of Tig's sight as the tears threatened to spill over, widening her eyes in an attempt to suck them back into her skull as she made her way to the bright blue portable toilets along the tree line. She let out the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding once she approached, tilting her head towards the sky to try and keep the tears at bay as she focused instead on the orange clouds, a small smile coming to her face.
"Knew that'd get ya." Her body jolted as she was startled by Tig walking out from behind the toilets with a wide grin, the reflection of the sunset bouncing off of his eyes.
For fuck's sake... Sydney had vastly underestimated him as she realized just how much calculation he'd put into this stunt. "You asshole." She laughed humorlessly.
"I love it when you talk shit to me, baby." He groaned smugly.
"You know, I did say besides every woman..." She attempted to plead her case, but he wasn't having it as he raised a brow skeptically. She pursed her lips as she shook her head. "What do I have to do." She sighed and rolled her eyes.
Tig just smiled evilly in response once again before walking away, leaving her where she sighed and shook her head, pulling herself together as she headed back to her table.
Some time later the bouquet toss was underway; so naturally, Sydney took the opportunity to make her way to the bar for some more tequila. She took two shots, turning to see who the unlucky victim would be when she felt someone pulling her back, whipping her head around to see Jax standing with a grin as wide as the Cheshire Cat.
"Somethin funny?" She raised her eyebrows, looking at him expectantly.
Jax pursed his lips and shook his head. "Got him acting like a gentleman." He nodded amusedly towards Tig who was standing with Clay and Bobby - knowing that on any other day the Sergeant would be going balls to the walls with the free alcohol and women. "Still can't believe it." He shook his head.
"I know how to take care of the crazy ones." She winked.
"Definitely not who I saw you goin for..." He explained with the slightest trace of jealousy in his voice.
"And?" She pressed.
"Don't you just think he's a little... Weird?"
In Sydney's unusual mind, she didn't think that Tig was weird at all. She lived for his regular talk of murder, unconventional sex acts, and necrophilia. It was the nice stuff that he did that had actually surprised her. She looked down into one of her empty shot glasses, chuckling at how twisted her logic was.
"You sayin you think I'm normal?" She looked back up into his blue eyes.
"Yeah, good point." He snorted. "You just be careful with him."
"I'm a big girl Jackson. You are the one that needs to be careful." A slight smirk played on her lips.
"So you are going for him then?" He smiled knowingly over her inadvertent admission.
"Sure am." She winked, turning away from him and ordering more tequila shots, needing far more alcohol in her system if Jax was just a taste of what the conversation tonight would be like.
"The hell you doin over here? Ain't you supposed to be on the floor catchin those flowers." Tig smiled as he approached her at the bar.
"I didn't expect you to propose so soon." She teased, raising a shot to him before tipping it back. "Nah, I'm doing the exact same thing you are: staying far away from that shit." She answered truthfully as she slammed the empty glass on the bartop, sliding two of her shots over to Tig - keeping the last two for herself,
Tig shook his head, nudging the overflowing shots back to her.
"Tiggy! You aren't really telling me that I'm losing my drinking buddy tonight." She whined in disappointment, surprised that her new partner in crime seemed to have no intention of wreaking havoc with her. Among many others on the long list of things she and Tig had become partners for, was drinking - he was always down for a fun time when the other guys were tired or home with their families.
"Told Clay I'm drivin. Besides, we both know you can finish all of em yourself." He nodded with a sly grin.
Sydney shrugged her shoulders before downing the shots that she'd passed to him - he wasn't wrong. "You decide what I gotta do yet?" She remembered her defeat, deciding she would try to find out what her impending doom would be while she worked on her buzz.
"Patience darlin." He squinted as he leant back against the bar, scanning the party. "You want somethin like this one day?" He tried to sound casual as he tipped his chin towards the scene before him, but she knew his intentions went further than small talk.
"Marriage? Or a wedding?" She chortled
"Both." He shrugged.
Sydney thought for a second - realizing she hadn't ever really put much thought into it. She knew that she liked the idea of being a wife - and since she'd met Tig those feelings had only intensified - but she had never really seen herself actually marrying someone.
"I think you already know the answer to that." She chose to stick to a cryptic answer.
And he did. Tig had gotten to know her better than anyone else had - broken through some of her walls. He knew that despite her attention grabbing demeanour, she was private when something actually mattered to her - just like him.
Sydney felt his hand on her back steering her somewhere, pulling her from whatever daydream she had given into as the effects of the alcohol began to take over. "Where are we goin?" She giggled.
Tig's hand moved around to her waist, bringing her into him. "We're gonna dance." He whispered in her ear, grinning as she looked up at him in confusion.
"Is that my punishment?" She laughed.
"You kiddin?" He scoffed in mock-offense, squinting with his hands held out expectantly. "This is a reward, baby."
"Since when does the Sergeant at Arms like to slow dance?" She teased, crinkling her face playfully as she ran her index finger along his jaw once she heard the slow music playing
"Since now. Come on, before I change my mind." He nodded towards the dance floor.
"Yes, sir." She cooed playfully and winked, unable to contain her cocky grin as he tensed up.
Tig inhaled deeply, licking his lips as he looked away - trying to collect himself as he led her to the dance floor where he placed his hands on her waist.
Sydney reached up and locked her hands behind his neck, thankful that the position held her upright as the tequila really began to hit her. She snapped her eyes open after noticing that they had closed, looking up at him dreamily. The even closer proximity than before allowed her to inhale an amount of his scent that she found to be even more intoxicating than the shots that she'd downed as they swayed around the dance floor to a slow country song - surrounded by the other couples.
"This everything that you thought it would be?" She teased, noticing a few looks that they were getting from the guys - clearly shocked to see their Sergeant slow dancing.
"And more." He chuckled.
"Dancing in my kitchen ain't enough for ya?" She smiled at the thought of the silly dances the two of them had choreographed while cooking dinner together over the past couple of weeks, tracing the dagger tattoo on his forearm as she waited for an answer.
"Nah. Not the same." He chuckled, pulling her in closer - her hand sliding up his arm and leaving a trail of goosebumps as she found her way back to his neck before laying against his chest, listening to her sigh contently as he rested his chin on the top of her head.
That was the last thing that Sydney vividly remembered before things got blurry, finding herself on the dance floor grinding against Jax to the beat of some trashy hip-hop song. She vaguely remembered the two of them starting a line dance, but that could've been hours ago and she would've had no idea. She was beyond hammered - hardly able to process what was happening as it was happening, it was like her brain was a lagging computer; catching up a few seconds late.
Even in her impaired state, Sydney noted Jax being much friendlier than usual with the dirty dancing as she felt his hands on her. The two had danced multiple times and he was a great partner - fun, flirty, and always down to put on a show - but until now it had always been completely platonic. She chalked it up to the copious amounts of alcohol, feeling a little better when she realized that more of her normal dance crew was around them as well.
Tig watched from the bar as the VP's hands were getting more and more bold around Sydney's hips, pulling her ass against him. The Sergeant was trying his best to put a harness on his jealousy, knowing that nobody would make a move on her since he had claimed her - but seeing another man with his hands on her in the way that he yearned for his to be was giving his self-control a run for its money.
;
"Wonder what the fuck her deal is." Jax nodded towards Sydney where she was leaning over the bartop doing a crossword puzzle from the newspaper while twirling a lollipop between her lips.
"What do you mean?" Juice questioned as he grabbed the pool stick from him and began lining up his shot.
Jax's lips curled up as he glanced at Tig who was standing across the pool table. The VP was into her - hell everyone was - but he saw the unmistakable crazy way they looked at each other, so his antics were purely to rile up his Sergeant.
"Just wonder when she'll drop the act and make the rounds."
"Don't count on it brother." Tig shot him down. "That one's mine."
"You are not calling dibs on the twenty year-old San Bernardino hottie." Jax scoffed with a convincing wince, taking his turn where he missed his shot completely.
"You're fuckin blind if you can't see the way that the Lass looks at him, brother." Chibs defended.
"No way. There's no goddamn way that she is into him." Jax winced again, amping up the dramatics.
"I think she actually is, man... I don't get it. Have you seen how they look at each other? It's like their eyes go black and they can't stop smiling." Juice recounted his detailed observations as he sunk his final ball.
Tig grinned proudly at the inadvertent reassurance that his brothers gave him. He had lost countless girls to Jax before, and he knew that Sydney got on with him and the younger guys, but he also knew full well that they couldn't hold her proper attention - they were just toys to her, she chewed them up and spit them out.
"He's at her house all the time." Chibs added.
"So?" Jax questioned, keeping up the charade for as long as possible as he missed another shot.
"You ever been to her house?" Tig asked cockily.
"I ain't even been to her new house." Happy added bitterly from where he'd been standing silently in the corner.
"She gave him a key." Juice divulged, knowing that it would be the nail in the coffin - sinking the eight ball to end their game
Tig smirked, glancing over to Sydney to make sure that she wouldn't see him showing off the key that she'd given him to her house - personalized with a cartoon Tigger keycap. Looking at it made his heart flutter - as it did the countless times that he'd looked at it since she gave it to him - fighting the bashful smile forming on his face.
Jax furrowed his brows as he examined the key. "I don't get it neither, but that one's built for a bloody savage." Chibs chortled.
"She is a savage." Happy rasped as they moved to sit at a table nearby.
"Aye." Chibs nodded. "Her and Tigger were tryin to get Jackie Boy and his gash to fuck in front of em last week."
Tig laughed, remembering him and Sydney wagering whatever they could to see what it would cost to get Jax and his whore to bare it all.
"Dude, she's even worse than he is!" Juice exclaimed quietly. "The other day when we were tryin to help Clay with an anniversary gift for Gem, he brought up those homemade dildos that he gave as Christmas presents that one year." The guys all groaned and snickered in memory of the true Tig-style gift. "First she was on her ass laughing, and then she said that she wanted one because he won't fuck her!." The guys all looked shocked and slightly amused as Tig nodded in satisfaction.
"Wait... You won't fuck her?" Jax asked, surprised with disapproval heavy in his tone.
"It's complicated." Tig sneered.
"Oh don't tell me that little miss biker barbie is the one to get you thinking with your head and not your dick." Jax scoffed. "Dude, if you won't - I gladly will. Can't leave Princess lonely now."
"She aint interested." He told the blonde man firmly, getting a challenging stare in response. "You know what, fine. You go over there - try and get her attention." Tig snarled.
Jax pursed his lips and nodded, accepting the challenge as he waltzed over to where Sydney was behind the bar. "Hey, Princess." He greeted as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
Sydney looked him up and down, pulling the lollipop out of her mouth. "Hi, Jackson." She said expectantly with a heavy dose of sarcasm, the guys suppressing their laughter from the table.
"How ya doin?"
"Good." She said unamused before twirling out of his grip and leaning back on the bartop, returning to her crossword puzzle. "You need somethin?" She asked, not looking up.
"Uh, can I just get another beer?"
"Sure." She mocked, handing him a cold bottle. "You want some Jergens with that too?"
Jax bursted out laughing, blushing as he shook his head and retreated back to the pool table. "Told ya brother." Tig grinned.
"Don't mean shit." He shrugged, refusing to give up. "She brushes everyone off like that."
"You really ain't seen him with her, have ya Jackie? Tigger, show em how it's done." Chibs nodded to Sydney.
Tig smirked, pushing off of the table and walking over to her behind the bar where Jax just had. "Hey, doll." He whispered into her ear while he held her waist, moving behind her towards the fridge.
"Hi, Tiggy." Sydney smiled as she turned around in his arms, pulling him into a hug.
Tig smirked at Jax over her shoulder, giving him the finger. She was cold as ice, but she melted in his hands...
"You ever gonna let me do my job?" She teased as he pulled away to grab a beer from the fridge, pushing herself up to sit on the counter.
"Eh, maybe one day." He chuckled.
Despite the teasing, Sydney loved how he would never make her get his drinks while she was on bar shift - especially after seeing him demand them from the croweaters when they were working.
"Saw ya talkin to Jax..." He nodded slowly.
Sydney shot him a discerning, raised-brow, questioning look that she had quickly picked up from Gemma as she held onto the sucker stick between her lips - snorting when he didn't let up on the blank expression. "You worried someone's gonna steal me from ya, Sergeant?" She saw a nervous smile threatening to crack on his face as he remained casual and took a sip of beer. "Don't worry." She lowered her voice, leaning in closer. "Blondes ain't really my type." She winked.
"They're mine." He responded with a smirk, getting one from her in return. "How is bar shift tonight anyways?
Sydney shrugged and looked down as she extended her legs over to the counter across from her, blocking him in - frowning while avoiding his eyes.
Tig immediately set his beer down, grabbing her waist and making her look at him. "What's wrong, Princess?" He pulled the sucker out of her mouth.
"I don't know." She shrugged again. "Just a bad day..." She said quietly as she dropped one leg down, allowing him to get between them as he pulled her into a hug, his entire body surrounding hers.
"Oh, sweetheart... Anything I can do?"
"You could tell me about that little conversation that you boys are havin." She rasped into his ear with a smirk, feeling him freeze before shifting slightly as he glanced over to the guys who were all watching. He pulled his body away, but they kept their hands on each other as he gave her an intrigued scowl when he saw the deviant look on her face.
Sydney shifted her eyes in the direction of the guys before leaning up, pulling him down and kissing him on the cheek before winking at him - watching his face light up in a grin before he slowly slid the sucker back in her mouth.
Tig became very aware of his position between her legs as he wondered how the fuck she knew what they were talking about, and if her actions were to prove her point - however his concern over her knowledge went to the back of his mind once he realized that her foot had instinctively hooked behind his knee, keeping their bodies close and their lips closer. He sorted his bewildered look quickly before grabbing his beer and returning to the table.
The unconvinced look remained on Jax's face as Tig sat back down - which Sydney caught, fueling her decision to push further. She bit down on the sucker, crushing the remaining candy between her teeth before she walked over with fresh beers for Chibs, Happy, and Juice - placing them in front of the men.
"So, what are you boys gossiping about?" She mused, watching their faces go white as she stopped at Tig's chair and placed her palms on the table with a brow raised.
"Club shit-"
"Shit for the wedding-" Jax and Juice replied at the same time, but with different answers.
Sydney snorted at their horribly failed attempts to throw her off. "Don't be gangin up on me boys, I might like it too much." She smirked and winked. Without warning she sat down on Tig's lap, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. She couldn't see his face, but based on Jax's and his tense muscles under her - she was sure that he was looking as white as a ghost.
And she was right. Tig went pale as his eyes widened, completely taken aback before he gained his composure and smirked at Jax as everyone sat in silence.
"Well, go on." She said impatiently, gesturing for them to return to their conversation. "No need to stop your chit chattin just cause I'm here." She leaned back, forcing Tig's arm around her where his hand landed on her thigh, visible to Jax. She trailed her foot down the inside of his calf, pushing her thigh against his hand slightly so that it would slide down between her legs.
Tig tightened his grip when he felt what was happening, stopping himself from going too far - but he didn't miss the feeling of her foot pressing into his calf just a little harder when he increased the pressure.
"Ugh, I'd rather be dealing with them." She scoffed when they stayed silent, getting up to return to the bar where two hangarounds had appeared. She ran her hand over Tig's shoulder as she made her way back to the bar, turning around to see him smirking at the guys.
"Told ya. Mine." Tig stated matter-of-factly with a smug grin, the VP putting his hands up in surrender. After a few minutes of sitting in a haze while everyone got back to talking around him, he looked to Sydney who was back to leaning over the bartop, chuckling when she tossed him a wink.
;
"You hit that yet?" Tig was pulled from the exciting memory as he heard the groom slurring next to him.
"What?" He shook his head, regaining consciousness to see Bobby widening his eyes and nodding in Sydney's direction. "Nah." He shook his head, refusing to look in the direction of her and Jax.
Bobby's eyebrows raised higher, sensing the jealousy. "Looks like tonight might be your chance." His face turned red as he laughed. "Go get your girl, brother." He patted him on the shoulder.
The observation of Sydney with another man coming from a brother was all that Tig had needed to make him take action - stalking over to her on the dance floor.
Even in Sydney's drunken state, she noticed Tig approaching her from across the property - and apparently so did Jax who quickly backed off. It didn't matter though, because she ran right out of his arms and into the ones that she belonged in.
"Tiggy!" She exclaimed as she jumped up onto him and kissed him on the cheek while he stood motionless, revelling in the moment before remembering why he was there - shaking his head and pulling her to the ground.
"Don't you be actin cute."
Sydney frowned. She had learned from a young age that not many things actually upset her, but she had a sad face that no man could say no to - using Happy as her guinea pig over the years to help her perfect her pout and watery eyes.
"You're done. Come on." Tig gestured towards the lot, softening his demeanour a little when he saw how sad she looked, watching her pout before beginning to stumble towards his bike when he didn't let up.
"You have no goddamn idea what I would do to you if you were mine." He mumbled along the way, barely enough that she could hear as she stopped in front of his bike.
Then make me yours.
"What?" Tig asked, surprised.
Sydney looked to the sky when even drunk off her ass, embarrassment flooded her as she realized that she had spoken out loud - acting as if she hadn't said anything.
In that moment, Tig had absolutely no idea if she had actually said anything or if it was just his hopeful mind playing tricks on him - urging him to make the move that invaded his thoughts day and night.
"The hell you think you're takin her?" Sydney and Tig both snapped out of their thoughts, whipped their heads towards the direction of Happy's unmistakably raspy voice. The sudden movement made Sydney dizzy as she stumbled back, Tig grabbing her arm to keep her upright.
"Just takin her home, man. Clay's orders." Tig defended calmly, he wasn't trying to properly anger the Tacoma Killer - especially when there was no ring for a friendly fight to hash things out.
"Yeah, Clay's orders." Sydney mocked, wagging her finger in Happy's face.
Happy looked down to see Tig's hand still firmly on Sydney's arm. He took a few steps towards the Sergeant, getting close enough to intimidate him. "If I find out..." He started.
"It won't." Tig stopped him before he could finish.
"Don't worry, Happy Meal." Sydney broke free of Tig's grip, pressing her hands and forearms against Happy's chest, leaning all her weight on the muscular man who was like a brick wall - completely unfazed. "He won't fuck me even when I'm sober." She slurred, flailing her arms about.
Tig was taken aback by the brashness of her statement. He knew that it was just a result of her drunken stupor, but he made a mental note to set her straight when she was of sound mind. He also figured that protesting her claims in front of the already sussed out Tacoma Killer would not be a wise choice, so he just nodded and looked to the ground.
"Calm down." Happy huffed in frustration, stilling her arms. He hated when she was dramatic.
Sydney relaxed, but began to pout - trying her hardest to make tears come to her eyes. Happy and her dad were the only people that she ever let see her real emotions and even then, Hap had only seen her cry a handful of times over the nineteen years that he had known her. He knew that those wet doe eyes were all a part of her ruse - the ruse that he couldn't help but fall for every time.
"Needy bitch." He smirked, wrapping his arms around her where she sighed contently into his chest. He was unable to callous over his soft spot for the little blonde girl who, even on the verge of a blackout, knew exactly how to get under his skin.
Even after seeing him comfort her before, Tig still expected Happy to shove her off in her alcohol-fuelled outburst - something he thought the Tacoma Killer would surely draw frustration from, leaving him continuing to wonder if there was something there between them.
"You better be right." Happy grumbled to Tig before huffing away. The bald man was less than pleased with Sydney's choice, but he wasn't one to stand in her way - what she wanted to consent to was her decision. He was however, one to step in if he thought that she was in a position to be taken advantage of - which he did not put past his curly haired brother in the slightest.
Sydney wobbled while staring at the stars before Tig grabbed her waist to stop her swaying, letting go after he was satisfied that she was stable. But she whined as soon as his hands left her, pulling them back to her waist.
"You're not gonna fall." He assured her, trying to tell himself that he was wrong in thinking that she'd just enjoyed his touch.
"I know." She said quietly.
Tig scowled, deciding to test the waters of his growing suspicion as he tightened his grip. She moaned and her eyes rolled back slightly, stumbling back before his hands tightened around her even more.
"We gotta get you home." He looked away, lifting her dress and twirling it around - hooking it into her bracelet.
Sydney was seeing stars as she stared at him while he took care of her, but she didn't know if it was from the alcohol as Tig lifted her onto his bike before sitting in front of her. She was already feeling dizzy as she leaned against him, her eyes immediately falling closed.
"Hands." She lifted her head and looked around, not able to process what he meant.
Tig reached around and grabbed her hands, fastening them around his waist with the chain that he wore around his hip - knowing that she wouldn't be holding on safely.
"Not even gonna make me buy you dinner first? You're a cheap date, Sergeant." She giggle-slurred before passing out against his rumbling back as he laughed at her joke.
Sydney awoke as the bike came to a gentle stop in her driveway, feeling Tig unhooking the chain around her wrists and letting her hands free - helping her up before she began patting herself down.
"Shit." She cursed.
"What?" Tig looked confused.
"My keys are... At Gemma's." She attempted to recall with fluttering eyes.
Tig lifted her back onto the bike, re-hooking her hands around his waist - knowing that she was in no condition to be riding any longer than necessary, especially with no helmet. He figured the safest bet would be taking her to the clubhouse - knowing that Gemma and Clay's was a further drive, and they wouldn't be home for quite some time yet.
Sydney didn't sleep this time, she just hung her head as her eyes drooped to the point where they were almost closed. Once they arrived at the clubhouse, she was barely conscious - stumbling hard across the lot.
"Come here, babygirl." Tig said gently, stopping her as he lifted her into his arms where he felt a chill run through his veins as the warmth of her body surrounded him and her sweet scent invading his airway - clutching her a little tighter.
Sydney could feel herself swooning as his strong arms tightened around her and he spoke to her with a voice full of care, wishing that she could press replay and feel him bring her into his arms over and over again.
Tig decided on the short walk that his gentlemanliness only went so far - going against his better judgment and taking her back to his room instead of Happy's. It was a risk, but it came with a high reward - showing his tattooed brother that he wasn't scared to take her from him in case things weren't as platonic as the two of them liked to say.
Sydney dozed off again on their way back to his room, waking up as he placed her onto the mattress gently. "Tiggy." She mumbled as her eyes fluttered open.
"Shh." He murmured before he started lifting himself upright, but she held him there - staring into his eyes as she pulled him closer to her lips.
Tig felt his heart stop when he realized what she was doing, hesitating as he made the gut-wrenching decision to kiss her on the cheek instead. "You're drunk, Kitten." He explained softly, grabbing her forearms to release the grip that she had around his neck.
Sydney hardly knew what was going on, but the burn from the scorching heat of desire that she had between her legs was becoming unbearable. The room was spinning - she was convinced that her eyes were doing circles, but she knew clear as day that she wanted him.
Tig sighed when he saw the disappointment on her face, leaning down and pulling her into a hug. "Trust me, doll - you have no idea how hard it is to say no to you..." He pressed his lips against her neck below her ear as he spoke, sending chills up her spine as her hand clutched the back of his neck in response to the pleasure, making him twitch as she released an involuntary moan.
"You don't want me, Tiggy?" She asked quietly, the sadness in her voice tugging at his heartstrings.
"Sweetheart, I want you more than anything..." He sighed, lifting up to meet her eyes and cupping her cheek. "But not like this."
Sydney felt her sadness being trumped by his admission - wondering if he was only saying this because he thought that she wouldn't remember in the morning.
Tig pulled her up to sit, scooting behind her as he began unpinning her hair from the fancy twirls and braids that had been woven into her curls.
Even in her drunken state, Sydney was overcome with emotion from his soft gesture. She closed her eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair gently once it was all released from its bedazzled confines.
"Better?" He asked just above a whisper. The feeling of his breath on her neck had her hand automatically going behind her and snaking up the side of his, holding him against her. She nodded before he pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the top of the head before standing up, pulling her up with him by her hands. He threw the covers back with one hand while he held her upright by an arm wrapped around her waist, turning her around slowly to unzip her dress. "Stay there, and do not get any ideas." He said firmly.
Sydney giggled as stood as still as possible - which wasn't still at all as she teetered in place until he was back to help steady her, handing her a big t-shirt.
"Put this on, lay down. You're not sleepin in that." He turned around, rushing into the bathroom and closing the door behind him - refusing to deal with the temptation of looking at her as she undressed because he knew that would've easily pushed him over the edge.
When Tig came back he saw her passed out on top of the duvet, chuckling to himself at first but he was quickly silenced as his eyes trailed up her bare legs - his shirt barely covering the lacy black thong that she was wearing.
"God dammit..." He grumbled, pulling his eyes away and inhaling deeply - walking over and sliding his arms underneath her gently.
Sydney was almost completely asleep, but her arms and legs still managed to wrap around him instinctively as soon as she felt his touch.
Tig groaned when he felt her clinging to him yet again, his hands with a mind of their own as they gripped onto the bare skin of her ass as he lifted her from the bed.
"Take advantage of me, Sergeant." She whispered, her lips almost making contact with his.
"I-I'm not touching you anywhere else." He shook his head as he forced the words out.
"It feels like you are..." She chuckled lightly as she could feel him hardening through his sweatpants where his body was pressed against hers, grinding on him the best she could.
"Enough." He slapped her ass playfully.
Sydney hiccuped from the surprise of his action, the loud clap of his hand against her exposed skin filling the room. "Spank me, daddy." She giggled as he placed her down in bed.
Tig held his breath as he lowered her down to the mattress, trying to tell himself - and his dick - that she was only joking around. But his attempts faltered when once again, she wouldn't let go of him. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to tune it out but the feeling of his touch-starved body against her nearly exposed crotch and the death grip that she had on the back of his neck was enough for him to give in again - swallowing hard as he lifted her back up and laid down with her on top of him.
Sydney couldn't really comprehend what was happening, but she felt a warm satisfaction wash over her body, grinning once she realized that it had come from his body pressed against her. Even in her state of heavy intoxication, she found herself surprised that the so heavily reputed Sergeant at Arms could have such a gentle and considerate nature to him. She knew that he had far more emotion than he cared to let on, and the more that she thought about it the more she was shocked at just how different he was around her - still trying to wrap her head around it even though deep down she knew that it was the exact same reason that she was so different around him.
She unhooked her legs and loosened her grip on his neck so that he could get comfortable as she slid down to his side, keeping one leg draped over him while she laid on his chest, arms still around his shoulders as she inhaled his comforting scent and quickly fell asleep properly this time.
Tig's breathing was shallow and fast - trying not to gasp for air after holding his breath while she nuzzled into him. He tried to close his eyes and pretend that she was just some whore who had passed out before he could kick her to the curb, but he couldn't. He would never hold a crow the way that he was holding her. A crow would never make him feel anything close to how he felt right now. For the first time in decades, he felt needed - needed for something more than pulling the trigger or scaring someone off. He twirled his fingers in her hair, gently trailing them along her back - sure not to wake or jostle her as she slept so soundly on his chest. This moment was all too pure for Tig Trager to ruin so soon.
;
Songs for this chapter
Do I - Luke Bryan
Get Low - Lil Jon
Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys
Get Busy - Sean Paul
Teacher's Pet - Melanie Martinez
Love Song - Lana Del Rey