A/N ((Contains swearing/ mature themes. Enjoy. Still taking place in the past.))
Charming, Five years ago...
Blowing a curl away from her eyes, Nora bent over as she walked gathering towels tucking them beneath her arm as she went. Rich, bored housewives and overly testosterone fueled gym rats milling just outside the studio window. Glancing at the clock she hissed under her breath, she was late, again. Throwing the bundle of towels in to the hamper beside the door and shimmied through the passing members, smiling in greeting at clients as she squeezed through and hurried to the employee locker room. Her day had begun at six A.M, hardly enough time for a cup of coffee she'd rushed out of the house. With mounting debt from student loans and still countless semesters to complete, her day being compromised of several odd jobs. Personal training just happen to kill two birds with one stone; she made decent legitimate money, and it kept her in what she hoped was awesome shape. You couldn't argue with the perks.
Emerging ten minutes later, hair freshly washed and piled loosely in a bun atop her head she was ready for her second job of the day. Wearing a teal green tank top and black worn scrub bottoms and bright pink Nike tennis shoes, keys in hand she nearly tripped over the gyms threshold as her elbow was snagged by passing hand. She already knew who it was before she even lifted her gaze up. Robert Tully, a software engineer who was well-known around the gym as a technological genius, amazing tennis player, and an all around humanitarian and in Nora's opinion a pompous asshole.
A single one-on-one session was all it had taken for her to see the man's dazzling smile and charming good looks were only a thin veil for his haughty attitude and easily detectable God-complex. Unfortunately for her, Mr. Tully had taken an instant and all-consuming interest in her every move at the sports club. He'd mistaken her easy-going nature and sweet smile as an invitation. Used to getting his way, he'd chosen to ignore her obvious disinterest and consisted mantra of 'no, thank you' and pursued her with open abandon. In other words he was a world-class prick. The only things keeping her from filing a two-week notice and changing gyms was the fact she couldn't risk losing her list of clients.
Robert Tully flashed a grin, porcelain capped teeth gleaming. It reminded her of a shark, a predator sniffing for blood in the water. Copper blond hair combed back he wore dark grey slacks and a button up white shirt, dark green tie stark in contrast against the dry cleaned fabric his own black leather duffel bag in hand. Smile not quite reaching his eyes she couldn't help but imagine that his tie alone cost more than her entire wardrobe.
Eyebrows raising he tilted his head to the side just slightly.
"Leaving already? I'd hoped to speak with you in private."
Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes she forced a tight smile, shouldering her gold gym bag and took a step back, trying to put a few inches of distance between them.
"I'm sorry Mr. Tully I'm running late. If it's really important you can leave a message with Nicolette at the front desk."
His manicured hand never left her arm.
"I told you, call me Robert. Have you given any thought to the offer I made the last week? The pay is considerably higher, medical, dental benefits…I remember how expensive college is, it would be much easier on you than working what…two, three minim wage jobs?"
It wasn't pride that stopped Nora from accepting the offer; she wasn't blind to the incredible attributes it could bring someone in her finical situation. A dream come true, debts paid in full in half the time, no more late nights spent wondering if she'd pay her rent on time, but Nora knew the price of such opulence. It was a pound of flesh she wasn't willing to sacrifice. The lack of fawning doe eyed adoration she denied Tully confused and exasperated him, his natural cruel curiosity was the only reason the offer was available at all; he wasn't used to women being anything but accommodating. Nora was an exception; she was an anomaly he couldn't understand. She'd known men like him her whole life, their lives read like a script, deviate from it and they spiraled out of control.
She blinked, chest heaving with annoyance.
"Two jobs and Mr. Tully I appreciate the offer but I really can't accept it."
Turning away she was surprised to feel his grip tighten.
"White trash little bitch…" His hissing voice in her ear cut short by the throttling roar of a Harley motorcycle pulling into the parking lot.
Nora felt a flood of relief as she turned towards the source; the Reaper patch on the back of the riders Cut like a beacon of hope, Happy was easily becoming her unconventional knight in shining armor. The normally self-assured expression on Tully's face fading, eyes scanning the competition he took in the sight of the large sheathed knife attached to his belt. Leather MC cut over a faded navy blue hooded sweatshirt. Snake tattoo peeking out from the neck, wrapping around and up the back of his shaved head. The gravity of the situation was plain and the con's well outweighed any possible profit he may have secured even without the interruption.
Mouth downturned in a seemingly permanent scowl Happy Lowman sat on his bike waiting, head held high and he did not like what he saw, not one fucking bit. A rush of jealousy flooding his senses as he caught sight of the way the stranger was touching her, the way Nora's jaw clenched in discomfort. Unclipping the chin strap on his helmet he glanced towards the security camera's attached to the overhang on the building's entrance. That particular brand didn't record, it was strictly for surveillance, and it was all it took for Happy to decide he'd seen enough.
Before he could cross the fifteen feet towards his intended target, Nora turned on her heel and like magic was suddenly standing before him her small hands against his face; soft mouth kissing him as she stood on her tiptoes heart beating a million miles per hour in her chest, like a humming bird vibrating to stay alive. Any and all anger he felt was instantly quelled, and up until now he'd sworn he was content with the empty nameless faces of the women he'd met but this simple act of gratitude from Nora Rawlins changed everything. She was more, and Happy very much wanted more.
Toes curling in delight, any discomforts forgotten as her inner self did back flips, jumping for joy.
Her mind reeled as she felt him return the kiss, teeth grazing her lip.
Oh my god, holy...
Stepping back, she looked in his eyes, and Nora knew instantly something had changed something superbly monumental.
"Let's go." She said as loudly as she dared, though in truth she spoke barely above a whisper, voice filled with unspoken need.
Licking her lips, Nora took the helmet and cast a glance towards Tully before she moved towards the vehicle, Happy following wordlessly behind.
Feeling a mixture of confusion and wonderment churning in her belly she watched as Happy got on the motorcycle. She didn't know whether to be ecstatic or terrified by her behavior, by the fact he'd returned the kiss with interest. This was only the third time she'd seen him, they'd exchanged maybe twenty words to one another and here she was kissing him. She'd only meant to defuse the tension; keep Happy from being arrested for assault and her from losing her job…wasn't she?
Holding the helmet in her hands she eyed the front of the building warily, the spurned Tully retreating inside, scowling intensely at the pair as he did. Nora had no doubt that would be a conversation for later, it all depended on which tormentor was extracting the questions.
"Thought you wanted to go?" He asked, drawing her away from her thoughts, an amused expression on his face.
Turning towards him Nora was reminded there was the small matter of being late for work. Taking in his secretive smile she heard her inner self groan.
How does he do this to me?
Happy was an enigma, someone she knew next to nothing about and yet somehow he managed to always find a way to pull the rug out from under her feet. Causing Nora to experience emotions she'd never felt for anyone before, the wish to feel his touch again no matter how trivial, tugging hard at her consciousness. He was turning her inside out and he didn't even know it.
"I can't... I have drive to Serrano, I clean houses there…"
An affluent gated community just five minutes outside of Charming, medical specialists and lawyers called it home, monstrously descendant homes with personal putting greens and infinity swimming pools.
The Nomad remained silent for a moment, as if waiting for Nora to realize what he considered to be the obvious.
Biting her lower lip she tried to fight the smile that she knew was pushing its through.
"…Fine, fine. You can come with me if you want, no one's ever home so I won't get in trouble."
"I'll follow you." He said strapping his own helmet on.
As the young woman made to walk away towards her car Happy reached out taking her hand in his, pulling her back.
"Wait." He commanded softly, and pulling in close kissed her.
God, she tasted good like honeyed apricots.
Releasing her he started up the motorcycle, shouting over the roar.
"Now I'll follow you."
Mouth open slightly, Nora had to tell herself to pick her jaw up from the ground. Nodding dumbly for a brief second she turned towards her car again, smile consuming her face.
Nora's mind raced the entire drive over, her mind overrun with thoughts of his kiss. Torn between being flattered and utterly confused she tried to reason why he'd done it. He'd never shown any interest before; then again he wasn't exactly the easiest person to read. It left her to wonder just why he was here in the first place; she'd never told him where she worked presenting her with the true randomness of the whole thing.
Pulling in to the driveway of the four bedroom three bath home she had a fleeting second to wonder if this was bad idea or not and realized it was too late, it didn't matter..
Setting spray bottle filled with blue colored glass cleaner on the bottom stair she risked a glance towards him.
"They've never come home unexpected in the entire year I've worked here…They don't care if I help myself to the kitchen either so you can see if they have a beer or something." She offered, putting on a pair of latex gloves.
Looking in the direction of the kitchen, Happy took in the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and found to be suffocating and pretentious. He preferred the quaint low-key hominess of Nora's tiny one bedroom. This gated community bullshit just wasn't his thing. The entire house was like a museum, cold and lifeless, walls decorated with what he assumed was priceless art, its owners more concerned with the prospect of earning money to spend on a house they were never home to enjoy in the first place. Opening the restaurant grade refrigerator he was glad to see someone had at least stocked it with decent beer.
Reclining back on the white leather sofa he watched Nora buzz around the house, polishing, scrubbing, and dusting. She moved at a break neck pace, never lingering, never pausing. It was hard, thankless work but she accomplished it all with graceful ease. By the second hour she'd finished the first floor and moved the operation upstairs inviting Happy along with her, the Son still nursing his second beer decided it was safer to sit with his back against the lip of large tub in the center of the bathroom. Scooping up the sponge and bottle of Comet from the shower floor Nora couldn't remain quiet any longer.
"How did you know where I worked?"
Watching her from the mirror in front of him Happy took a swig of beer.
"That asshole in the suit, he touches you again and I'll cut his goddamn hands off."
Setting the supplies in the tote Nora wasn't sure what she'd expected to hear in the first place, she should know by now that he was the farthest thing from vague. She wasn't sure whether his comment made her feel flattered or shocked. She settled for both.
"And they say chivalry's dead." She said laughter plain in her voice, not at all deterred by his threatening promise.
Following her with his eyes, Happy decided to ask the one thing that had been on his mind for hours, days, weeks.
"You never asked how I cut my arm."
Peeling off the latex gloves, Nora swallowed keeping her eyes on her feet as she walked towards the bedroom, Happy not far behind.
"If I was supposed to know you would've told me and honestly the less I know the better…"
"About Club or just me?"
Ah ha, so that was why he was here.
Nora had tried and failed miserably a week ago to inquire any information at all about the Nomad from one of the prospects. She should have known better than to try in the first place, Juice was the resident Idiot for a reason. He'd no doubt crumbled under pressure and spilled the beans. She was betting good money it was Tig, he had a gift for spotting weakness.
"I'd wager Tig told you both…"
The mere mention of his 'Brothers' name bringing a smile to her lips.
"In a way, yeah…You always listen to him, even if he aint your real dad?"
Glancing at him over her shoulder at him, she reasoned their little conversation was spoken more in the boxing ring then calmly at the table, which made his unexpected visit all the more interesting. Tig had gone out of his way over the years to make her understand why he kept her and Club separate. Part of it was history the other was pure selfishness.
"It's complicated, what did Tig tell you?"
"That it wasn't fuckin happening…Ever."
Nora closed her eyes, shaking her head.
"And yet here you are…"
Happy shrugged.
"You ain't his old lady; make your own damn choices."
"It's more than that…"
She countered, hands fussing at the rumpled white down comforter only to still as she heard him set the beer bottle on the dresser. The plush carpet absorbing the sound of his feet as he walked over, his hands feeling blessedly warm through the fabric of her shirt before settling on her hips.
"You're a good girl, aren't you Nora?"
Watching him in the mirror above the bed Nora felt frozen in place. Palms moving up, caressing the bare skin of her upper chest, the pads of his fingers stroking her collarbone as her back came to rest against his broad chest. Nose nudging against the shell of her ear, his free hand popping the button of her jeans before slipping beneath the fabric, pleased to find she wasn't wearing any panties. At his mercy she closed her eyes as his fingers began a deliciously slow rub and pressure motion that caused her breath to quicken, the air in the room was suddenly paper-thin, a distant dream coming to life.
Turning them he sat down on the edge of the bed, holding her firmly against his chest while she came to sit his lap. Backside rubbing against him as her body pleasant stimulus, years of hard-won discipline falling through her hands like ash.
His voice warm bourbon against her tongue as he encouraged her to let go, surrender over to him, the way he knew she desperately wanted to.
"I want to hear you cry out again, the way you did when you thought no one could hear you."
Slipping his middle and ring finger inside, he used the heel of his palm working it against her, setting the tiny bundle of nerves on fire.
"Sweet, innocent Nora Jean…"
Head craned back against his shoulder, she thought her heart would burst from her chest, the pleasure building, rising before crashing through her. Crying out sharply, Nora bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood unconsciously fighting against his hold as the orgasm rocked through her. Breath coming out in shuddering gasps. Eyes opening slowly she gave a quieter, softer mewl as he scooted back on the bed, easing her down beside him on her back giving her jeans a gentle tug pulling them further down her thighs. The soft jerking motion clearing Nora's brain from the pleasure filled fog and all at once she realized where this was all headed. Fighting to sit up, hand's shooting out she sounded more startled than she intended.
"Happy wait, wait I…I've never…"
He froze at the sound of urgency her voice, knee wedged between her legs it made for a comprising position given the flash of panic in her eyes.
"Never…?" He questioned, mind already calculating the answer.
Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, Nora felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"I've never slept with anyone…I'm a…"
"...You've gotta be fuckin kiddin me."
Closing her eyes for a moment Nora sat up straighter, preparing herself for the worst.
He must be furious, she thought agonizingly afraid to meet his gaze.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry." She answered voice so small if he hadn't been inches away, he'd never have heard her at all.
Cradling her face in his hands Happy tilted her face to look up at him and to her utter amazement there were no resentful accusations, only the feeling of his mouth on hers.
"Don't apologize for that…Not ever. You want to stop, it's your call. I'll respect it."
Though his answer was calm, rational, Happy could not deny the feeling of the sinful, wicked lawlessness inside him pacing as if trapped, screaming its desires. With every fiber of its being it prayed she surrendered, gave him the honor of being her first. Of taking what he selfishly felt belonged to him in the first place.
Nora was tired of keeping everyone at a safe distance, everything just out of arms reach, and refusing to give up what she had in front of her, this frightening, beautifully dangerous man that she very much wanted. With trembling hands she reached for the edges of his shirt, fingers cool against the heat of his skin, long nails drawing goose bumps along his stomach. With a single kiss, feather light against his mouth she gave him her answer. Thumb brushing along her jaw with bruising tenderness, the voice inside him howling with triumph.
It was the beginning of the end.
The day she became his.
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