Disclaimer: You should all know how this goes by now

A/N: I've finally figured out this review reply thingy so any reviews should get a reply from me (yes, for a person with a 150 IQ I can be very slow at times) and I finally have my work pattern figured out so I might be updating more often now. If you hadn't guessed it already from the slight variations in spelling I live in England and so I won't always use the same lingo, I'll put equivalents at the bottom of the chapter as I did in the last chapter provided I know them, if you don't recognise a word google it. I don't think I've used anything this time, but do point it out if you think I have...these things aren't usually obvious unless you point them out.

There was the usual bright lights and smoke of the barbecue that first brought me back into the real world. I'd left the bike at home for the simple fact that it would be easier to trust a car tonight. It still didn't stop me fighting for control of my body's reaction to be in what it considered a prison. I felt trapped and unsafe in this metal shell, fighting desperately to calm down – I was not going to look a mess when I turned up. I'd worked damn hard over the last few hours on both my friend and myself in order for us to turn heads and nerves would not be ruining that for me. I saw a few faces that I presumed were pretty much constants – I had a had for faces, an almost photographic memory if you were to ask my former school teachers. I was so glad to be out of there and never wanted to go back into any form of education. I was more than capable but I just wasn't the sort of person who could deal with being sat in lecture halls being spoken at and taking notes for hours on end, it was just too dull an option for me. I needed some form of stimulation to keep me interested.

"You OK?"

"Hmm...oh, yeah"

It was my friend that snapped me out of that route of thought. I could've been sat here for half an hour if not more if I'd got lost in my own head. Well, here goes nothing. Opening the door the throbbing drumbeat of some nameless industrial song or another hit me dragging me further out of my own mind. It was one of those songs that you knew but it was such a vague knowledge that you just couldn't say who sang it or even what it was called. There was a gentle push behind me – the friend was waiting for me to introduce her to someone or at least guide her to the bar. I knew how she was feeling – so far we hadn't been noticed but there was no way on earth that it would stay that way. Christ, I was Kip's mate of course people were going to recognise me, even if it was just so one of those nasty, cheap crow-eaters could get a little closer to him. I'd always throw them off, offering hints that I knew he would hate. It was always hilarious to see him knock them back and go for one of the few who didn't talk to me. Poor, desperate, lonely whores. I had who I wanted and wasn't going to let him go, not any time soon at least. Thinking about him brought that little smile to my face, some would say it was almost predatory in the way it pushed a new light into my eyes and dragged that spring into my step. Although, by now it was more of a stalk.

I knew people were watching as we walked. Nasty glances were shot at me...I guess good news travelled quickly then. Strictly speaking we weren't actually anything much at the moment but it didn't stop them presuming. I could use that presumption though – it'd make things that bit more interesting in the long run and the prize would be far more appreciated once it was mine and mine alone. There was the glittering of the lights catching the sequined material that made up the so-called bandage dress. I understood why they called it that – it did really look like someone had wrapped a roll of something round me again and again. It was both backless and sleeveless – I'd learnt to hate having backs and sleeves a long time ago, at least on dresses. I did have to admit that it was a lot shorter than I was used to, but covered more than most of the others girls clothing would do. It wasn't ridiculously tight around my legs, but that little tighter than I would normally wear. Still, at least I could move in it. Black and silver seemed to suit me, or at least this me – the bolder, more self-confident me. Not the one that would normally tear a man's throat out for looking at me. Or woman's for that matter – yeah, I had had that unfortunate experience some time ago. I'd never let it happen again, just because someone was the same gender doesn't mean that you should trust them any more than the opposite gender. If anything they were less worthy of trust.

He was sat quite innocently at the bar with his back to me. None of the others with him seemed to have noticed me...yet. However, one of the nearby girls did and it struck me that she probably had a thing for him going on her following behaviour. She crossed the short distance between them and started fawning over him in a sickening manner. Although he kept up the laughter and act of enjoying the attention there was a tension in him that I hadn't seen before. Someone came up behind me, placing their hands over my eyes in the whole childish guess-who game.

"Hey Kipper"

"I wish you wouldn't call me that"

"Well, it's more fun than Kip and shorter than half-sack. Plus I'm an independent woman who can more than look after herself"

"Yeah yeah...what's up with the Spanish sweetheart look?"

"A change of mind – I was sick of starting too look like everyone else. Plus my good friend here, Miriam, wanted to see what the club was all about"

"Oh, hey. M'names Kip but everyone calls me half-sack"

"He the one that lost one of his balls in Iraq?"

"You told her that?"

"It was funny...at least it was at the time. Feel like being a gentleman and getting us a drink each?"

"Fine. What are ya having?"

"Jack for me, don't screw around with it. Straight, by itself. Got it? Miri?"

"Oh, I don't really know...what ever you're having"

"Fine, I'll go – sometimes you're worse to me than anyone else here is"

"It's because I know what makes you tick Kipper. I know which buttons to push and how far to push you. Right now I have myself a whore to deal with. Bring my drink to me and look after Miri, kay? I don't want Tig near her – tell him I'll be near the pool cues if he tries anything and I will know. Anyone else is fine"

"What about Clay?"

"Maybe not Clay, but he isn't such a worry. I like my work life separate from here. He'd get her drunk and press her. I know he will, don't forget my background Kipper I know what I'm talking about. Older presidents are always paranoid gits. No exceptions. Ever"

"Christ, I get the picture already. No Tig and avoid Clay. Yes ma'am. Now, I suggest you keep an eye on what's going on around you"

A cheeky smile and a playful whack to the back of his head let the now re-named Kipper know that I had closed the conversation and wanted my drink sooner rather than later. Toying with the curls , watching him and biting my bottom lip gave me something to do in lieu of talking as I looked over at the group that had had my attention earlier; the whore had gone, as had numerous others leaving Juice to his own devices and drink. There was something about the way he sat that suggested he was growing bored, maybe even a little disappointed that he hadn't yet spotted me. I knew that look, his eyes would be growing dull and he'd be burning a hole into whatever he was staring at. Letting go of the near black lock and letting the click of heels on the floor I found that sway again – the confident, bold young woman who had a certain someone locked in their sights. It didn't really feel like I was walking, but going on the sound of footfall I knew I had to be. I was not going to fall to pieces now, not when I was so close. But I could feel the thundering of my heart against the restrictive bone and muscle prison of a ribcage. My ribcage. God, it was one person so why was I getting like this?

He turned at the last moment, catching my outreached hand. I had intended to sneak up on him and give him a little surprise but maybe he'd known for a long time that I was there watching him. I didn't know but I didn't care all that much. Saying nothing he pulled me into him using his one spare arm to guide me so I was stood between his legs and pinned to his chest. The hand that had first pulled me in ran through my hair, trailing down my jaw line and pulling my chin up to look at him. Shivers ran over skin he touched. Both searing hot and freezing cold at the same time, longing for the contact again.

"Hey you...miss me today?"

"Of course"

"What did you fall over?"

Leaning into him, my lips lingered infuriatingly close to his. The heat of his breath ghosted over the nerves, tingling. God, I'd never wanted to cave so easily but I knew I couldn't give in first. I could feel eyes staring at me, hating me for being the one wrapped in his arms, pressed that close that I doubt air could pass between us. I think part of him knew exactly what this holding out was doing to me but somehow I think that little part was enjoying it.

"I don't really remember. I was too busy thinking about you"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah"

I think that neither of us could hold out on each other for too much longer. I was partly surprised that we'd managed this long without trying to find an empty room. He planted several frustratingly light kisses along my jaw line but pulled back before I could do anything to further it. Smirking his eyes flickered over to the whore who'd been paying him an unnecessary amount of attention earlier. There was the soft brush of his fingertips over the small of my back as he took to what I figured must have been a habit for him...or maybe it was just something he felt he should do. I wasn't going to argue as rather than stoking the growing fires of wanton lust, it seemed to calm them into a soft glow. Silence was comfortable with him, with my arms wrapped around his waist and head resting on his shoulder I could stop being paranoid for a moment and relax. The wicked step mother wasn't about to burst through the doors and hurt me, he wouldn't let her.

"I think you'll have to watch your back"

"Why is that?"

"Well, there are a number of girls staring daggers at you"

"Fuck 'em. You can get away with that shit on run but not here"

"I wasn't aware that you were my old lady"

"Well, considering just how close we've gotten and that you admit you can't keep your mind off of me I think you should...besides you offered first"

"I suppose so. They're still staring"

"Then maybe we should give em a show"

I loved that wicked smile he got from time to time - mostly when he was aiming to wind up the general public. Smiling for a moment, I was distracted by the brush of his hand against my forehead, pushing hair out of my face. I think it was more so that he audience could get a better view. It didn't stop my knees wanting to buckle. His touch was a drug...yeah yeah, call me crazy. You wouldn't be the first and I doubt you'll be the last. Subconsciously licking my lips seemed to give him the cue to go ahead with whatever he was about to do. Before I had time to react or even think about what was happening, I found his lips on mine. Once my brain kicked in, I wrapped my arms around his neck and him closer to deepen the kiss. I knew there would be a lot of hate in the room - he may not have been the oh so perfect Prince Jax, but he was still a patched Son that people thought were available. But why should I care? The world could fall apart right now or some crazed axe-murderer could burst through the door and chop everyone into tiny little pieces for the amount of attention I was paying to anything outside of what I had decided was the Juice bubble.

"Get a room you two"

"Interrupting just as it got good. Shame on you"

"Kipper, where's my drink?"

"Kipper? I'll have to remember that one"

"Only I get to call him Kipper. Drink please"

Knocking back the burning liquid, it detracted some what from the earlier burning. This was less pleasant and as much as I disliked the initial feeling, it had a way of warming me up. The glass went back on the bar next to me and the arms slipped around my waist, pulling me closer to a very happy Rican who currently had a very...noticeable appreciation of the new look and new attitude. This would be one very good night if I got my way and 90% of the time, I got my way. There was a certain need bugging me at the moment that reminded me that I had needed to go to the toilet before I'd got over here and I'd lost track of time after that. Slipping from his grasp and leaving him , I found the bathroom which was currently unoccupied much to my relief. I knew I'd have to be quick – I really didn't want to leave him at the mercy of jealous crow-eaters for too long. I didn't really know what they were capable of, but if they were anything like the girls up north then it'd only take 10 minutes to convince the most stubborn of waiting man to go to bed with them.

The running water that surrounded me seemed to be that little louder than normal – maybe it was the calm in here compared to the otherside of the door. Strange how you never really noticed it; the swirl of water getting pulled through pipes and into sewers simply to be cleaned and reused at a later date, like when you were washing your hands or running a bath...or shower for that matter. When did we start to take such incredible creations for granted? Water was so essential to our existence and it was so readily available, but it hadn't always been this was, had it? No – people used to have to walk miles and miles every day for water and even now that still happened which was sad but inevitable really. That no-one was willing to talk about it or consider what the real issue was kinda got to me. Kids shouldn't have to die because they don't have enough food or clean water. Snapping out of thoughts before I lost myself there (I would be able to do that...trust me. I once went 4 days without talking because I'd got lost in my own thoughts). I left the bathroom only to be confronted by miss try hard whore who'd been rejected in favour of me. She looked at me like I was dirt before opening her mouth.

"I don't know who you think you are but don't think you can turn up out of the blue and have an easy ride through. Juice has already got all he can handle"

"That ain't no way to talk to his old lady. I know he's got all he can handle he said it himself - I've made every sweetbutt and crow eater hopeless in comparison. You lost, get used to it...Chibs is looking a little lonely though. See if you can get his attention for once"

She didn't like that - the swift, stinging slap made it obvious. I knew it'd mark and I wasn't happy but neither was I going to retaliate, I didn't have to. Ok, maybe I had provoked her but she deserved it, she should have never approached me in the first place. A second was just too far though. Same cheek, but this time it hurt a damn sight more and there was no reason for it. Without really thinking the flick knife that had thus far remained under wraps was out and digging into her throat. It wasn't big enough to do any damage but it would scare her into listening to me.

"That was uncalled for. I suggest you leave me alone or I'll find you and slice that disrespectful tongue out of your mouth, leaving you to bleed. Do I make myself clear?"

"I don't get what he sees in you. You're more Tig's type"

Her voice was dripping with venom as I let her go. She looked at me with so much hate...I didn't believe it was possible to hate a stranger that much. But maybe she'd just proven me wrong. Slipping the now covered blade back where I had got it from I walked back into the room, spotting Jean who was by now looking for me with a degree of panic. Had he realised that his psychotic stalker had gone after me? No...probably didn't even realise that he had one. Bless, he seemed so oblivious to so much going on around him. I doubted she'd be causing us any trouble again. However, she'd triggered old fears and paranoia's. Finding my place in his arms again he gave me one of those looks - the ones he seemed to hand out like candy whenever I went quiet and sought him out.

"What is it?"

"Psycho stalker crow-eater hit me. Got her back for it, but..."

"She upset you?"

"Yeah...guess she did"

"C'mon. I know it's early but lets get out of here. We can do as much or as little as you want. Kay?"

"I suppose I could live with that"

Slipping off his seat at the bar, he circled my waist in a rather protective manner. He didn't know who the attacker was but it was like the gesture was to ward them off - whoever they were that is. I hadn't even bothered to ask their name...oh well, my wicked deed was done and their stupidity had done nothing but earn me an early night with my man. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Miri still with Kipper both of whom seemed to be enjoying each others company and decided that we'd probably both still be here in the morning. However, going on what had been going on for Juice earlier it was more likely to be midday than morning before any of us were up and about if you get where I'm going with this. I hadn't really been paying attention to where we were going but when a door closed behind us, I did snap out of my daze long enough to figure out that we had to be in his clubhouse room. I wasn't sure if he had anywhere outside of here but it was very likely. It was hardly sensible to even contemplate living here. There just weren't the right facilities.

"Are you OK?"

"A little shocked maybe...why would they do that?"

"Some of them are crazy...might bruise but it won't be noticeable. Come here"

I knew it was a request but by habit I followed it as more of a command, casting those dumb-ass shoes to one side. I didn't get why I'd worn them in the first place. Looping his arms around my waist, he pulled me down to sit on his lap taking a moment to gather ourselves. I still wasn't sure what the rest of the club thought we were but I found myself caring less and less with each stroke of his fingertips of the small of my back. It was both a real weakness and a real turn on at the same time. As they had done earlier in the bar, it was like an instinct to find each others lips. There was the one hand toying with the back of my dress as if trying to figure out if it zipped up or not. It did, but he was searching in the wrong place, guiding it round to the side nearest him I left him to figure it out...were it not previously engaged I'm sure he'd be using his mouth to make some dumb-ass comment.

The evanesce touch of his hands replacing the slipping silk and cotton that had so far covered me stoked the fires he'd managed to keep calm this evening. How could one person have so much control and power over another without some sort of force or witchcraft involved? I knew there was no force in him - he would never make anyone stay and the general consensus was that witchcraft was women's work, plus he was a technical guy I didn't see him believing any of it. The only break in contact was for the necessity of breathing, that and to peel his shirt off, leaving it to one side. Returning to watching him, there was that heady look in his eyes that could only come from being drunk on lust. We'd managed a whole half an hour before finding a bedroom, which for us was a personal best. Normally we'd be desperate after a quarter of an hour...yeah yeah. Rabbits, heard it all before. The graze of his touch made its way at an agonisingly slow pace over thigh, hip, stomach, rib cage and neck settling yet again on my jaw, turning my gaze to him. Such a sweet torment, I'd lose myself there if he let me.

"I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"Letting someone hurt you"

"Forget about it. Doesn't matter. Just you and me now"

If you'd asked me who led, I'd not be able to tell you. All I knew is that it was like the first time. Although neither of us were that loud, what noise we did make seemed to fill the room without spilling over. Time was meaningless, both of us lost in one another and unable to draw the lines, define where we started and where the other ended. Whispers and sighs drowned out the noise from the bar, this was our music, not the drive and mechanical sounds of some man-made instrument, but the natural rhythms of bodies wound together consumed in passion, lust and dare I say maybe even a hint of love. The heat of release and ensuing blanketing bliss was something different. In the world I'd grown-up in he'd be gone already, in search of another conquest. I don't think he realised his staying meant so much to me. Lain over his chest, stroking the soaked skin with one of his arms wrapped around me was something different. Maybe it was the longing for this contact that had allowed me to let him get into my head. Love was a foolish, dead emotion. A sentiment of ages past. No-one truly loved any more - or at least that was what I had been raised to believe. So why was it that one person had made me doubt what hundreds have said over so many years?