CHAPTER EIGHTY

Website where all photos of all outfits mentioned is on my profile. 5 reviews gets next chapter early. Hale Charming is finished its initial writing at 119 chapters! Editing and tiding up to do and it's all finished. Sequel already being written though :-)

Drying myself off quickly I slip into a pair of lacy cupcake panties and a long sleeved Challenger shirt I got when I brought my now mutilated car, plaiting my hair quickly I've just finished dragging cream over my leg and I'm arranging myself in the bed when Jax walks in, stripping his clothes off as he walks he doesn't seem at all concerned about me watching him as he goes.

Climbing into the bed in just his boxers he pulls me close and sniffs my hair, "You smell like cleaning shit, baking and something else."

"Well I did just clean your bathroom. Seriously, when was the last time that room got cleaned?"

"Last time Ma got sick of it and did it." Jax says, shrugging one shoulder, which causes my head to move and I end up with my face almost in his armpit.

"Eww." I splutter, resettling my head on his shoulder.

He laughs, "Mechanics smell."

"Sweat, oil, petrol and rubber, the aftershave for the working man?" I retort.

"That's the one, can't have me smelling like sugar and baking like you do." Jax buries his nose in my hair and inhales, the appreciative rumble coming from his chest making me grin.

"It's Vanilla and Black Orchids." I say quietly.

"What?"

"The baking smell is Vanilla, and the other one is Black Orchids." I hold my arm up to him and he sniffs the exposed skin of my wrist.

"Hmmm."

There's a few seconds of silence and I'm a little startled when he starts talking again, "Sorry if I seemed angry with you before darlin'."

"It's okay Jax, we've been in each other's pockets for 2 weeks solid, I'm sure you're getting sick of me being underfoot." I tell him, moving a little further down the bed, so I can tuck the dark blue cover over my shoulder.

"Nah, its good having you around, constant supply of food and cakes, what more could I ask for." Jax grins and ruffles the ends of my hair.

I snort but choose not to answer, the obvious list of reasons that he'd want me gone starts with the damper my presences puts on his sex life and ends with the constant babysitting he's having to do, but also includes the restriction on his time available to spend with his son, his club and his family.

I take a deep breath and decide to use the opportunity he's offered to ask the question that's been on my mind all day "Jax, I do have something I want to ask, and you can tell me if I'm pushing it." I feel him tense a little at the end of my sentence.

"You can ask," His voice is slightly forced, "and I will most definitely tell you if you're pushing it."

"There are actually a couple of things I need to ask about Saturday." I tell him, preparing myself if he tells me to get lost on the Ima issue.

"Fire away."

"The first one is that I have to go to Uncle Jacob's for dinner so I'm not sure how that's going to work with the babysitting duty, but I'll be done from there by 7, Gemma told me I have to be at the wrap party at Cara Cara, which is fine, I wouldn't make any of you miss that on my account."

"I don't think you could get Clay to okay someone missing it. He's already demanded that we're all in attendance. As for dinner I'll run it past Clay tomorrow at church, K?" Jax tells me, "But there was more, what's got you so worried?"

"Ima." The single word makes him relax, I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

"Who?" Jax's genuine confusion is enough to make me giggle.

"Blonde skank likes to throw herself at you, can't change a tyre and attempts to steal other people's shoes." The confused look still doesn't leave his face and I quickly recap the story regarding my shoes that almost found a new home.

Jax eventually nods when I get to the end of the story; obviously he now knows who I'm talking about. "What about her?"

I sit up a little, glad that the lamp on the bedside table is still on, so I can see him while I talk.

"We both know that there's something between us, it's not just me, right?" Jax nods but doesn't say anything. "Well, Aunt Gemma is well aware of it too and she's also far too observant for her own good, but she did tell me something that I am grateful for. I'm not sure how many of the other guys have noticed it. I know that your favourite bed warmers have noticed, but that's another issue that I'll deal with if I have to." I know I'm babbling a little.

Jax props himself up on his shoulder and looks at me, an eyebrow raised. "Hey, spit it out already so we can go to sleep."

I take a deep breath in. "I don't want you touching Ima again. I can't watch you and her vanish into some room and know that the two of you are doing something that we're," I gesture between us, "not ready for yet."

Jax runs his hand over his face and I keep talking, "Gem knows how I feel about Ima, and she knows how Ima's been treating me since I arrived and your attention got diverted. I know its way over my boundary asking this of you, I have no claim to you at all but please don't sleep with her again. I think I could almost handle anyone other than her, bar one other woman but I am certain if she showed up again I'd put her in a dirt bed before she got into yours."

Jax drops back onto the pillow and tugs me down beside him, tucking my head onto his arm he grins. "Tara is a non-issue. She's back in Chicago with her fiancé and her medical school and whatever else it was that she ran away from here to. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't even notice if she came back. But if it's bothering you that much I won't go near Ima, you'll have to remind me which one she is though on Saturday when we get there, cause I'm bound to forget."

I can't help the laugh that comes out, "Okay, I can do that. Saturday I'll remind you which car fucking whore you're not going near."

Jax nods, "So no latex wearing porn star for me."

I chuckle, "Don't worry there, I've got something, well someone, lined up to keep you entertained. Bloody over-sexed bikers."

"Hey!" Jax sounds most upset that I would suggest he has too much sex. I'm sure he doesn't think he does.

A quiet giggle escapes me and I make an effort to stop any more from coming out. Jax grins in the dim light and moves his hand down to tickle me. "Don't! Leg remember."

"Okay, you'll get a reprieve for a while, but it's not gonna be forever." Jax says, leaning over and flicking off the lamp. "Now, go to sleep."

I vaguely feel him kiss the top of my head as I close my eyes and start drifting off..