16
Chapter 27 Recap
Jax and Tara learn nothing from Nero's uncle and his girlfriend, but Jax leaves contact information hoping that Nero's uncle will arrange a meeting. The uncle's girlfriend Myra provides little information about the man claiming he was sent by Jax Teller to look for the boys. She had been in a hurry and only remembers the man was average height wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses.
Jax and Tara search Nero's farm and find no clues. Tara notices that Honey bunny, the rabbit Thomas likes to sleep with wasn't taken. She believes that if Gemma had taken the boys, she would have taken Thomas' bunny because she knows he needs it to sleep.
JAX IS REALLY ALIVE!
Chapter 28 Gone Girl
After an impressive amount of time for a quickie, Jax and Tara, using mini-Cas' navigation system, found a steakhouse/BBQ restaurant nearby. It was a typical, casual dining restaurant with dark wooden tables with burgundy upholstered chairs. They were seated at a secluded booth with high sides for maximum privacy after Jax explained they were celebrating an anniversary.
A red-headed waitress with a ponytail came and took their order. They ordered iced tea, Caesar salads with steak and ribs for Jax and steak for Tara. They needed to replenish the calories they had burned from so much sex.
"This is a great booth. All nice and private," Tara said.
"That's why I made up the story about an anniversary. We can't talk much with anyone around. In this booth, we're separated and secluded. Also, since we're hidden from view, maybe we'll be able to get out of here without the cops getting called."
"I was thinking about how some traits are genetic like Abel's heart condition. In our family, we have a trait, but it's not genetic. You were kidnapped by the Russians and the cartel. I was kidnapped by Salazar. Abel was kidnapped by the Irishman Cam and our boys have now both been kidnapped. That's four of us and we've been kidnapped six times," Tara said.
"I never thought of it before, but you're right. That's a lot of kidnapping. This is the last time anyone gets kidnapped."
"I hope so. I still remember how scared I was when Gemma told me you and Opie were kidnapped."
"It is ironic that the cartel saved Opie and me and then later they kidnapped me."
"I'm surprised some sex-crazed soccer moms from that coffee and cupcake shop near TM didn't kidnap you and use you as a sex slave."
"I'm too fast," Jax chuckled. "I can out run them. Juice wasn't so lucky. They wanted to see if his penis matched the one on the internet that the VPUs posted."
(This is a reference to Strange Times for SAMCRO, another story I write. Juice got jumped, stripped of all his clothes except his cut and photographed by a member of the Vespa Purple Unicorns, the most vicious of all the scooter gangs. After the photograph, the cut was taken from him.
The VPUs' mission is to humiliate outlaw MCs. Juice's picture was posted on the internet next to a ruler that showed he measured a soft two inches. To undo the club's humiliation, the guys had a quick dick measuring contest. Jax won, of course, and his penis was photoshopped onto Juice's picture, redeeming the club's honor.)
"Do you think the VPUs could be responsible for the windows and the fire at Scoops?"
"No. The VPUs do things that are humiliating. Like posting videos of Tig getting his hair permed and Juice falling over on his bike because he forgot to put is feet down at a stop sign. They wouldn't shoot out windows. They would paint their VPU symbol on the building. They did that before at TM."
"So, you think there's any chance they took the boys?"
"No. The VPUs are anti-MC. They want to destroy outlaw MCs because they don't like the violence and the lifestyle. Taking the boys would draw heat to them and be against everything they believe in. They aren't going to do that."
"I think I like the VPUs."
"They ride around on purple Vespas," Jax pointed out. "No real man is going to ride a Vespa and their logo is a unicorn riding a Vespa."
The waitress brought the iced teas and salads. Tara waited until the waitress was gone before she continued.
"I always liked the macho side of the MC. I tried dating the sensitive modern guy and it just didn't work for me."
"You need a little sensitivity. When your hormones calm down, I'm going to want more than meaningless sex," Jax cautioned her.
"Words I can't believe came out of your mouth."
"I'll shock you some more. I want to kiss you for at least an hour. Only kissing."
"An hour, huh? We haven't done that since high school."
"We spent a lot of time just kissing then."
It occurred to Jax that he planned moves when he was leading SAMCRO and he should do the same when it came to getting Tara back. His strategy was to break down her emotional walls by using their past. By deliberating reminding Tara of those perfect high school days when they craved each other and no matter how much time they spent together, it was never enough; she would remember all the love and good times they shared and want more.
"It took you long enough to kiss me. I think you made out with every girl in school twice before you kissed me. And that first kiss, really?"
(I also write Tara's Story. That's where what happened during that first kiss is revealed.)
"I may have been playing you a little," Jax said with an ear to ear grin.
"So you had some kind of plan that involved not kissing me?"
"It worked. I think that I should be compensated for all the meaningless sex I've given you today."
"You compensated?" Tara asked indignantly. "You're getting sex."
"True, but I didn't want meaningless sex. That's what you wanted. I want something in return. Isn't this how our relationship works? We tell each other our needs."
"What compensation do you want for helping me in my time of dire sexual need? I thought you were doing it to help me out. I didn't know it came with a price."
"The meaningless part is the reason I'm going to need compensation," Jax explained with a serious look on his face. "I want to spend an hour just kissing you. No fondling of the breasts or hands wandering below the waist."
Tara frowned, drawing her eyebrows together in thought.
"Is that one hour for each time we have sex or is this the full rate."
Jax drummed his fingers on the table as he contemplated the price for all the sex he was having with Tara.
"I'll cut you a deal. Two hours is the full rate to be paid in one hour installments."
"Do I have to kiss you back?"
"Really?" Jax's voice rose. "You don't want to kiss me back?"
The waitress arrived at that moment with their entrees.
Tara again waited until the waitress left the table.
"I'm playing you. I wanted to see the look of outrage on your face. Your face turns red and your eyes practically shoot sparks. You look just so insulted," she said giggling. "How could any girl fail to respond to a kiss by you?"
"Damned right. It's never happened before," Jax said. "You know what, if you don't want to kiss me back, I'll just kiss you."
"You are taking advantage of my physical disability. That's wrong."
"True, but I have what you need. Two hours of kissing seems a small price to pay for all the sex you expect me to provide. Better take my offer now before I increase the price."
"Fine. I accept, but just you wait; I am going to remember this and you will suffer. Remember the time you soaked me with the hose? You even got my hair and face wet. Remember how I got revenge?"
"Yeah, you tied me up and waxed my junk. Couldn't have sex for four days because I had a bad reaction."
"That bad reaction wasn't intentional and I didn't tie you up. You did that to yourself."
"Accidentally."
"Seeing you tied naked, spread-eagled to the bed and completely helpless was such a good moment. Waxing you was so much fun."
"Most women would have taken the opportunity to have sex with me. You wax me."'
"I can get sex from you anytime. Revenge is a lot harder to come by."
(Jax and Tara are referencing a chapter in 52 Shades of Jax, another story I write)
The waitress returned to refill their iced tea glasses. Her hands were shaking so badly she almost spilled tea all over the table.
"You think I'm Jax Teller," Jax said.
The waitress looked at him with fear in her hazel eyes.
"We had this happen earlier," Tara explained. "I wish the police would just catch that guy. It's such an inconvenience for us and people get so scared."
"I just realized you sort of look like him."
"Sort of look like?" Tara exclaimed. "He's his twin, but he doesn't have the tattoos. Show her your arms."
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that."
Jax pulled up his sleeves to show that his arms were free of tattoos.
"Sorry, I was so silly," she said, flashing them a dimpled smile.
"That's OK. Maybe you could reassure anyone else that thinks I'm Teller."
"Of course."
The waitress left looking visibly calmer.
"That went well," Tara said.
"Yeah, I think it will get easier."
"It will be easy with civilians. Cops don't want to believe you aren't Jax Teller. They didn't care that you didn't have tattoos when we got detained at lunch. I think they thought it was some trick."
"It was funny when they kept staring at my arms."
After they finished dinner, they returned to their hotel. Jax continued to help Tara through her hormone sex craziness by being her human sex toy. If they didn't have to head out to a couple of biker bars, he would have been able to easily top Opie's ten times in one day sex with Donna—not that he was competing.
Tara dressed in tight jeans and a V-neck cherry colored top that showed a hint of cleavage. She'd curled and teased her hair, applied black eyeliner and three coats of mascara to her eyes and filled in her lips with a peachy nude lip gloss.
"You definitely look like bad girl Tara now," Jax said, looking her over.
"What about you? No white sneaks?" she said, looking down at Jax's black motorcycle boots.
Jax was wearing jeans, a blue chambray shirt and a black leather bomber jacket perfectly distressed.
"There are always fights in biker bars. Since we don't have back up, motorcycle boots do more damage. Not as stylish," Jax smiled, "but they can inflict serious injury."
"Is this going to be hard for you?"
That was the Tara he knew so well. That compassionate person that was always concerned about him until he fucked everything up when she got arrested.
He kissed the top of her head.
"I'll be fine. You know I will do anything to get the boys back."
"That's one of the things I lo . . . like about you best," Tara said.
Jax immediately picked up on her slip. He knew her feelings were softening. The expression in her eyes was warmer. Her eyes looked more like melting chocolate.
On the drive to the first of the three bars they planned to visit, Jax gave Tara additional instructions.
"You are going to have a lot of guys come up to you. Their hands may wander a bit and you may have to allow a certain amount of that. That doesn't mean you have to let them do whatever they want to. You have the physical strength and training to handle yourself. Girls are going to come up to me and talk and my hands may wander a bit, but it's just to get info."
"Strictly business."
"Also, if you go to the bathroom, you can expect to see people having sex."
"Have you done that?"
"What do you think?"
Tara rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Of course, you have. Why did I even ask?"
"Don't sound so superior. You've had sex in a bathroom with me. Remember the party at Caracara?"
"Yeah, I remember. I was jealous and that porn whore Ima and I almost had a catfight. I went into the bathroom to cool down and you came in. One thing led to another and we had sex in the bathroom. The best part was Ima came in and saw us."
"Didn't that make it hotter? You were getting exactly what she wanted."
"Ummm . . . yeah," Tara said dreamily, remembering. "It did."
"If you need me, rub the top of your head," Jax said. "I'll be watching you constantly just to make sure nothing happens. When you want to leave just come over to my table or when I want to leave, I'll come over to you."
"You make it sound so dangerous."
"I wouldn't let you go in alone even with your alien super powers. The guys are used to using women and aren't too gentle about it. Be careful."
Jax parked the SUV and they entered the bar, Tara first followed by Jax. She walked to the bar and perched on a barstool. Jax entered quickly, scanning the bar before sitting down at a table with his back against the wall with a view of Tara and the front door.
The bar was done in forest green and cream. The walls had local street signs, historical pictures from Norco's past and pictures of softball teams the bar sponsored. It was neat and clean without a neon sign or cockroach in sight. The barmaids wore jeans with green T-shirts that had the bar's name "Green Tavern" on them.
Jax relaxed. This wasn't a biker bar. It was a cozy neighborhood bar. It was definitely not the kind of place that had nightly biker brawls. He still kept a watchful eye on Tara.
She never flirted with guys in front of him, but now, to get information, bad girl Tara had come out to play. Bad girl Tara was a lot of fun, but he loved her best when she was just herself.
A man walked up to Tara and spoke to her. She smiled at him, leaning close to say something to him. A few minutes of conversation later, she pulled some pictures of Brooke out of her purse.
Tara was posing as a porn film producer in search of the female star who was last seen riding off with a biker. Filming was beginning in a few days at a local farm and she needed to find the actress.
As a reward for any tip that helped her find the missing star Brooke, Tara was offering to let him or her watch the movie being made and attend the film's wrap party with a couple of friends. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. Tara further sweetened the deal by offering $500 to the person who helped her find Brooke.
Word quickly spread. At least one guy from each table made his way to Tara and took a flyer with Brooke's name on it and Tara's cell number written on the back.
Jax's story wasn't as easy a sell as Tara's. Women would be cautious about helping a man find a woman because he could be a pimp or a violent ex. He would have to turn on his charm to sell his story that he was looking for his off her meds bi-polar half sister Wendy.
It suddenly hit Jax that he could test out what Tara said about hybrid men not being able to sexually perform with humans. Maybe Tara made up the story or it didn't apply to Sliven men. All he needed to do was get hard when he thought about having sex with one of the four women sitting at his table. Two of them weren't very attractive so he would focus on the blonde and brunette he was sandwiched between.
The blonde woman was wearing a top so low cut her breasts were in danger of spilling out. That was more than enough to get him hard. Nothing. Not even the slightest twitch.
Not to worry; he had always preferred brunettes. He looked at the brunette sitting on the other side of him. She was running her hand up his leg stopping just short of his balls. She was pretty with long brown hair and gray eyes. Definitely someone he would have taken to bed. No erection. Not even the smallest stiffening.
What the hell was going on here? He should have easily gotten hard. Maybe all the sex with Tara had just worn him out. On the other hand, he had never been sexually worn out before. He didn't even think it was possible.
OK. Maybe he should try to get hard thinking about a threesome with the two women who were sitting at his table that didn't make the cut. Women willing to do threesomes automatically increased their attractiveness by two points. These women needed the two points. He pictured a threesome. Shit. Nothing. Not the slightest stirring.
He returned to his theory that he'd had so much sex that he might need a little more time. If he thought about having sex with Tara, he shouldn't get hard. He thought about having sex with Tara. Hard.
Son of a bitch! His dick worked fine when he thought about sex with Tara and failed on the four other women. Could it be some weird coincidence or was Tara telling him the truth that hybrid males could only perform sexually with other hybrids, Paralorns and Slivens?
He wouldn't cheat on Tara again. Aside from it being wrong, she would never forgive him and they would be done for good. He didn't want to have sex with anyone but Tara. He just wanted it to be a choice.
Could that be it? Deep down his body knew he only wanted Tara and that's why he couldn't get hard. He knew that sex with another woman would cost him the only woman he had ever loved. That made sense. He decided to wait until he could talk to Hale and Opie to see what they knew.
After about an hour, Jax walked up to the bar, put his arm around Tara and whispered in her ear.
"This happens to me all the time," Tara explained to the guys at the bar. "Guys find out I'm a porn producer and they want an audition." Tara looked Jax up and down and shrugged. "OK, blondie, I'll give you a quick try. Remember, if you see my star, call me and I'll make it worth your while." Tara winked at the men. "You've never partied until you've been to a porn film wrap party."
"You were great," Jax said as they got into the SUV.
"I think it was the story."
"No, Tara, you were great. You had those guys eating out of your hand and that was all you, not the story."
She blushed and smiled, pleased by Jax's compliment.
"I think the porn story is the one that will give us the best results. All the guys would love to watch a porn film being made."
"I agree. I did OK with my story about Wendy, but the women were more interested in me than in helping me. I doubt I'll get any calls."
"You'll get calls; they just won't be about Wendy. That didn't seem so dangerous. The guys were really nice."
"That wasn't a biker bar. It was a neighborhood bar."
"I think Wendy and Brooke were hanging out at biker bars hoping to find replacements for the bikers they lost."
"Brooke is a naïve kid. Wendy knows better."
"She's probably using again," Tara said. "She isn't making rational choices and Brooke may be taking the break-up with Rat Boy hard. Break-ups can cause people to act out."
"Yeah, I know what losing someone you love can do," Jax said ruefully. "Now, this looks more like a biker bar," Jax said as he pulled into the bar's parking lot.
The bar was a non-descript mud brown stucco building with a "Red Dog Bar" sign painted on the building's side. There were six motorcycles, along with a couple of cars, pick-ups and SUVs.
"It's definitely not as nice as the first place."
"Remember . . ."
"Rub the top of my head if I need you," Tara interrupted and completed Jax's sentence.
"No, I was going to say to remember you already have your biker, so don't go looking for a replacement."
"Don't worry," Tara said with a smile. "No one can ever compare to you."
Jax had spend a lot of time in biker bars, but this was the first time he'd walked into one without his cut or a couple of SOA brothers. He wasn't worried about himself. Between the enhanced hybrid physical powers and the fight training with the robots, he knew he could fight his way out of the bar. He was worried about Tara. He needed to protect her and make sure she didn't take get hurt.
"This is going to be a completely different experience than the last one. Definitely stay out of the bathrooms here. A guy could follow you in."
"I have alien super strength and fight training. I can handle myself."
"More than one guy might follow you in. Just stay out of the bathrooms here."
"What's wrong?"
"This is a rough place for a woman and you are fresh meat."
"I'll be careful and I won't go into the bathrooms."
Tara walked in first and again perched on a barstool. Jax sat with his back against the wall, perfectly positioned so he could see Tara, the front door and the bathroom doors.
Patrons of biker bars don't go for the ambience or cleanliness; still this place would have made even the most hardened biker hesitate to enter. It was dingy, dark, run-down with battered tables and chairs. The carpet on the floor was possibly beige a couple of decades ago. Now, it was dark brown with darker patches. There were neon signs for beer companies on the walls that provided the only illumination.
The bar was off to one side with pool tables on the other and tables with a few red booths mended with duct tape in between. In the largest booth, six bikers were holding court. They had two part patches identifying themselves as a non outlaw club with the name "Kitty Cabal".
Jax wondered what the hell the name "Kitty Cabal" meant. Were they a bunch of violent cat lovers or was kitty someone's attempt at being clever and they meant pussy? He sure as hell would never wear a patch with the word "kitty" on it. The actual logo was a badly drawn cat's head. It was hard to take this bunch seriously, but they outnumbered him. He could still outfight them though.
Tara was attracting a lot of attention both by being new to the bar and one of the few women in the place. Jax watched as a couple of guys went up to talk to her. A short bald guy who outweighed Tara by at least a hundred pounds walked up to her and grabbed her breast.
Jax was halfway to his feet before he stopped himself. He needed to let Tara handle this. Tara slapped the guy's face so hard, he staggered sideways and everyone laughed including Jax.
The bald guy that grabbed Tara had a big, bright red slap mark on his face. He went into the bathroom.
Jax was proud of Tara, but he had to resist the temptation to follow the guy into the bathroom and administer his own beat down for touching her. He needed to stay and watch her.
Tara continued talking to the men at the bar and handing out pictures of Brooke. The bald man returned from the bathroom and took a seat at a table. One of the bikers left the booth and sat down at his table.
While still keeping a watchful eye on Tara, Jax talked to the skinny blonde who came over to his table. He flirted with her automatically, but he was watching both Tara and the two men at the table looking at her.
The other man at the table, wearing jeans and a trucker's cap with the words "Gene's Trucking" on it, went to the bar and managed to get next to Tara. He spoke to her and she smiled. Jax thought he might be trying to smooth things over for his bald buddy at the table. Still, Jax couldn't shake his sense of uneasiness.
Jax went into his story about Wendy and handed out a picture. The blonde was clearly not interested in helping Jax find his missing half-sister. She offered to go into the bathroom with him. He declined and she left pouting.
There seemed to be something off about Tara. She was moving slowly and spilling her drink. She couldn't be drunk because she wasn't taking more than a few sips of the drinks the men were buying her. She knew better than to get drunk.
The skinny blonde that Jax had rejected moved on to the man at the table next to him. He must have offended her in some way because she poured his beer over his head. The barmaid quickly made her way over to the table and began cleaning up.
Jax looked up and Tara was gone. The fat guy she slapped and the biker standing next to her were also gone.