Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from "Sons of Anarchy." They are the property of Kurt Sutter and Fox Network. No money is changing hands in the writing, reading or distribution of this story.
Chapter 52
"And lastly, concerning our dearly departed favorite ATF agent," Clay said, about to bring the discussion to a close, and Tig felt his heart begin to beat faster, feeling so excited, like a kid in class who had brought the neatest 'show and tell.' But he was quiet, sitting to Clay's left with his usual half bored expression, making everyone who looked at him wonder about whether or not he was even paying attention to anything being discussed. He had been of course; he always did, generally knew more about what the club did and would do than anyone else except for Clay. But that was his secret, Tig liked it that way. But now…he couldn't wait to start talking, and when Clay had reached down and grabbed the paper bag from the uniform supply store in town that had been able to put together a few patches, Tig had to fight even harder not to smile. Clay looked at everyone across the table, but skipped Tig. "We all know what happened, and we all know who," he said. "And we all understand why it will never be spoken of again, ever! We protect our own, we all know that, and in this case, it means shutting up, even though we wouldn't be here without that little windfall."
There were a lot of nodding heads and "yeahs" around Tig, who glanced up, dying to see Jax's face, but Jax was looking down at the table top, kind of pursing his lips…he probably disapproved of what happened…the pussy…and he probably thought Joss needed to be kept in a cage now, too…asshole. Tig felt himself beginning to glare, and quickly turned his head, catching Opie's eye instead, who looked back at him and gave him a nod, like some kind of "congrats on your old lady saving our ass" type of acknowledgement…but why couldn't he let it rest? Tig nodded back to him though; one thing he always would respect in someone was loyalty, and though he wasn't exactly at home with Ope having some kind of loyalty to Joss now because of the whole Stahl thing, it was something he'd have to learn to accept…for now. But, Tig owned Joss, she was his property…any loyalty Ope had to her was actually loyalty to Tig himself…holy shit…that was fucking ironic! Yeah…that was definitely irony this time!
"However," Clay had begun speaking again, digging into the paper bag now. "Even though what Joss did for us 'goes without speaking,' it has been the catalyst of a brand new patch that SAMCRO will officially recognize beginning now." Clay drew his hand out of the bag and put a handful of the two inch, diamond shaped embroideries on the table, beginning to deal them out to everyone there. "From now on, each one of us who either has, or will, remove an established threat to this club, will be awarded one of these." Clay held the item up. "Take down a known enemy; you get a Ten Patch, kinda like notches on a gun belt." He chuckled then turned to his left. "Tig, she's yours, you wanna explain the significance of what this is?" Clay asked, again holding up the patch.
Don't smile…be cool…be aloof…but it was so difficult to sit there and maintain that. But Tig sighed as if having to speak only distracted him away from some thought he was having that was way better than this. "The number ten is for the tenth letter of the alphabet, it's in bold black for her hair, the green border is for her eyes, the white background is for her skin, and the diamond shape…" he paused a moment, lost in thoughts of Joss and wishing she could be here to see this for herself. "The diamond is because…she's just as precious to me."
Shit! Had he really said that? Fuck! Tig's eyes quickly darted around the table, looking for any sign of anyone beginning to laugh, or grin or do anything that meant they perceived any kind of ridiculousness in him, or any weakness, but no one did so much as quickly look away from him like they had something to hide. Everyone was holding their Ten Patch, nodding their heads again, Chibs turning towards him a bit, "very fitting, brother," he said to Tig, and a chorus of affirmatives followed, even Jax had been part of it, surprising and disappointing Tig, until he saw Jax quickly take his Ten Patch and stuff it into his jeans pocket, like he was already tired of seeing it, tired of being reminded of what doctor bitch would never win him. Tig couldn't help but smirk a little, but looked away from Jax again, once more his eyes inadvertently falling on Opie, who didn't notice this time, because he was too busy contemplating the Ten Patch in his hand. Jesus Christ, it wasn't that ornate to require the amount of scrutiny Opie was giving it…what the fuck? But Opie kept staring at it, and then rubbed his thumb over it, loyally.
Chapter 52; Part 2
Oh damn! Joss knew she'd gotten home too late…but Sam required a lot of time and patience; the simplest of things were such difficult tasks by contrast. Today Joss had spent most of the time just leading him back and forth from his paddock to the barn and back again, doing it again and again until he realized that Joss was the only one between them that got to walk on her feet. It was something that needed firm, but gentle undoing; not the kind of thing that Joss could start with him and then quit half way through, he had to know she meant what she told him and she couldn't give up until he complied…but God was he stubborn! She'd only planned on being at the barn for maybe an hour, but it had become two and a half hours, and then Lauren had showed up at the barn with that envelope from Tig…now here Joss was just getting out of the shower when Tig was coming through the front door to pick her up and take her back to the clubhouse for the party…and her cellphone was chirping away with a new text message, too.
"Joss!" Tig yelled, per usual whenever he came back to get her for a club party and she wasn't right there by the door. It would have made more sense to just let Joss drive herself to the party; that way Tig didn't have to double back, but he always refused, because if Joss drove herself to the clubhouse, then Tig didn't get to ride home with her on the back of his bike. There was a lot status involved on the arrival and departure when it came to parties and Joss had understood, and didn't question it any longer…but she was running late this time, and it was no one's fault but hers. Her new horse had issues, but she loved working with him!
"I'm up here," she yelled down the steps as she picked up her cellphone from the bed, but Tig's boots were on the steps before she could check who the message was from, and he soon stood in the hallway, Joss dropping the phone in order to not look like she'd been lying around texting and wasting time. Her man looked anxious to get back to the clubhouse, but he wasn't scowling at her…yet. "I'm so sorry I'm not ready!" She groaned to him as she flung open the closet door and began sliding hangers across the bar they hung from, looking for the black, ribbon lace-up corset style top she had with the sheer vampire pointed split sleeves, because Tig always liked that one, and since she was running late, it was best to pull whatever would make him happy. "I had a really hard time with Sam today, and—"
"Okay," Tig answered, as if the name "Sam" coming out of her mouth had made everything alright. "As long as you're not nervous about going tonight, because there's no reason to be," he walked over and took the black corseted top from her and nodded his head at it then her. "I get you too much horse?"
Joss started to laugh; he was certainly in a good mood. "I feel like we're talking about heroin," she smirked at him then went to her dresser to search out a pair of Harley Davidson jeans. "And no, he's just a little hard headed, in a bunch of creative ways," she explained fondly, thinking of Sam and then also the money and note she'd received from Tig, via Lauren. "Did you get the message I left you?"
"No," Tig answered, watching her move across their bedroom in only the towel as she collected clothing and now opened another drawer to find a good bra and matching panty set…but this always took a little bit of time being that all her underwear was black…thanks to Tig's demands. Oh well, it wasn't like white or any pastel colors were really Joss's thing anyway. His eyes were really on her, but Joss wasn't surprised; he still hadn't quite caught up with himself as far as sex went, and it took less than usual to get him going…and going…and going. "Did it say you were gonna be late?" He laughed a little, but the way he watched her was becoming more and more serious.
Joss looked up from her drawer of black delicates and smiled at him. "Listen to it," she told him, knowing that once he did, they'd likely be even later to the party, but that wouldn't be her fault anymore, and she watched Tig grab his phone from inside his cut and begin to flip it open. She remembered everything she'd said to him in that message, "Tig, it's me, everything's fine. I'm at the barn, and Lauren just gave me your gift, and I wanted to try to catch you before 'church' to thank you for doing that! You might be sick, twisted and crazy, but I'm lucky to have you!" She'd laughed as she'd said that and walked far enough off from Lauren that her next words weren't heard by her. Joss still felt her parting words to Tig. "Anyone can make a relationship work if they want to, but the fact that you are making this work, despite everything that you go through each minute of every hour of every day, proves something I've known since I met you; you really are just a little stronger than everyone else." Joss smiled even now as she thought it, he really was, though no one could see it, but Joss could see nothing but that. "Thank you for being in my life; I love you, too!"
Tig lowered his phone, but Joss managed to see him pressing "nine" to save that message just before he flipped the clamshell shut again. He was looking at her like he was a little startled, but a little relieved at the same time. "So you know?" He asked her, and Joss knew what he meant, and knew he wouldn't be able to immediately tolerate that the secret he'd been keeping between them was out.
She didn't smile, a smile wasn't called for; she just nodded her head. "You've been trying like hell to say something to me for the last few days," she said as she got all of her clothes together finally and stacked them on the bed to begin getting dressed, but she walked over to where Tig stood by the bed first. "But, you don't have to say it, I know what it does to you in there to even have to know it," she put her hand on his chest lightly, but she could feel the way his heart wanted to leap out of it…damn, she had hoped this wouldn't make him that nervous. "So you don't have to say anything to me, baby. We're good. I know, even without hearing the words."
Tig was looking down at her like he didn't know what to do next, saying nothing and not even attempting to, trying to let what Joss knew sink into him, and looking for that place inside himself that he could stand off from it, look at it, and see that it was good. He was getting there, Joss could watch his journey through the blue light that was taking over his eyes, his hand reaching out to her shoulder and rubbing it gently, but all of a sudden he yanked off her towel, and before Joss knew it, Tig had thrown her back onto their bed, and was quickly showing her that he wasn't about words, because he'd never been about words, he'd always been a man of actions.
Chapter 52; Part 3
Well it was dark now…how long had they been here? All of his brothers were inside, or around the entrance to the clubhouse at one of the fires that burned in a five gallon drum, but Tig and Joss still sat on his bike, him turned around backwards on it, facing her, his arms around her, holding her so closely as they kissed and kissed and kissed that Joss's thighs now lay overtop of Tig's, letting him have all the responsibility of making sure they weren't about to tip the bike. She was leaning into him; of course she had to, because his hands had slid down her back, over her patch, and were now inside the back pockets of her jeans, his eyes closed as he pressed himself against the feel of her body and the kisses she was dragging along his neck. But Joss was good, not doing anything he didn't ask for, not until he did ask for it, Tig's hands covering both of hers that had remained flat against his chest, moving around under his cut over the long sleeved black t-shirt he wore, and he slowly pushed her hands up and around neck. "It's cool," he whispered to her, looking up at her briefly. "Do it," and even before her arms tightened and locked behind his head, holding him close against her incredible tits, Tig was kissing her again, his mouth fused to hers as their tongues continued making love.
Joss's hands sprawled across his shoulders, still careful of his recovering wound, but she really did like to feel him, liked to press her fingers into every groove of muscle he had and know it was there…did he really need this t-shirt on? Tig pulled away for a moment to draw a breath and actually contemplate losing the shirt so that Joss could touch him the way he knew she loved to…the way he was coming to feel so honored and revered by, because that was what Joss was doing when she smoothed her hands over his body, gracing every muscle and sinew with her admiring touch, she was worshipping him. He'd never sat out here on his bike with a girl…making out…and had any of his clothes off…not that Tig being seen at a party with a woman, but not making out with her, who had some or all of her clothes off was rare…but a little reversal like his shirt being off…added to the whole making out thing…hmm…people might talk.
That was if anyone even knew he and Joss were here, they'd arrived late and never made it into the clubhouse, Tig still so caught up in what he now knew Joss knew…they were a knowledgeable couple…and it had all created this "thing" to appear inside him that just wanted to be close to her, to be holding her tight and be inside of her, and he'd given it all of that before they left the house, a good fast, hard, quick fuck before Joss could get dressed, but it still wasn't satisfied, wanted her, wanted her body, wanted her love again. It went beyond being horny…he'd been trying to catch that up all week now, but this…hmm…it was like he just couldn't get enough of her; his hands crept up her back again, pressing over both the top and bottom rockers of her patch…he owned the girl, how much more of her could he possibly get? But he did want more, like somehow, some way, there was more of her to be had…and Tig wanted to be close to all of her, to wrap every last bit of her in his arms and squeeze until he and Joss were the same fucking thing…but what did any of that even mean? Fuck it…he just really really wanted her, and if anyone said anything 'cute' about him being in the parking lot with his shirt off and Joss wrapped around him as they sucked face, Tig was just going to smash their teeth out. His hands went to the hem of his black t-shirt, but just then, Joss looked up and kind of raised her eyebrows at what he was about to do, halting him.
"Are you sure you're okay with this? Here?" She asked, her hands still clasped at the back of his neck, her body still close to his, and she kissed down his neck softly again.
"Doesn't fucking matter," Tig replied, realizing after all that he wouldn't have been feeling particularly himself if he was the only one on this bike with an article of clothing missing, and while he had every right to order Joss to remove everything if he so wished it, there was no way in hell that anyone walking passed was going to get a free show…not of her, not his dark, sweet, perfect angel…who was making his dick throb like hell…Jesus Christ he wanted her! "I can't stop." He admitted to her and kissed her again, both his arms wrapping around her and squeezing tightly, wondering if they'd ever make it to the actual party tonight. But who cared? Joss knew how he felt, without him having to say so, and God damn him for it, but he wanted to be alone with her, and feel what they both felt without anyone knowing it was there. "Joss," he half sighed, and kissed her mouth again, but not too deeply, really meaning to speak, but he just had to keep kissing her, couldn't stop; not even long enough to ask her this. "How the fuck do you figure me out?" He asked; eyes closed her mouth over his now, but keeping it brief. "How?" Shit, Tig couldn't figure himself out half as well as Joss did.
He felt her start to smile amidst the next kiss they shared, and she pulled away a short distance, her lips still brushing his as she answered. "I guess it helps that I'm crazy too." She smiled, then surrendered to the way he kissed her again, wrapping his arms around her waist and supporting her as he leaned her back on the bike a bit to really deepen the osculation and nearly lay on top of her, holding that way for as long as he could until he had to sit them both upright again in order to keep the bike steady. Her eyes opened a moment and then she leaned forward, kissing his neck some more. "How do you figure me out?"
Tig laughed. "You're not that hard to figure out, little girl," he said, brushing his fingers through her long, silky jet tresses and pushing her back so he could look into her peridot eyes, so green against the Egyptian princess eyeliner. "Since I met you, I know that whatever it is I'm sweatin' my nuts off trying not to do, or kicking my ass for having done already, is exactly the thing you want me to do, or say or be, or whatever else." He said, shaking his head, but he smiled a little. "You know it'll always be that way, for me…but I'm thinkin' you're okay with that, huh?"
"I wouldn't have you any other way," she said, her eyes on his, Tig just staring back at how perfect she was, though this perfection couldn't be seen. Joss smiled and let one hand slip from around his neck to trace one side of his dark mustache and then both patches of nearly black beard on his chin…she was touching that more now too, but Tig knew why, and it wasn't helping to cool him down any…ever since Joss buffed her muff, he couldn't keep his hands off of it, or out of it…unless his mouth was on it…absolutely nothing impeding his tongue and lips from sinking right into her sweet, wet slit, licking her deep until he was drunk on the taste of her, but what Joss talked about the most now was how she could feel his goatee prickling mercilessly against the inner pink petals of her little flower and tickling her along the soft, velvety skin on the outside of that dulcet, sacred little bloom. Shit…maybe he should keep his shirt on, and she should lose the jeans…Tig could make this work, somehow…she just had to move back some on the bike and put her legs over his shoulders so he could bend forward and…shit…why had he bothered to bring her here tonight? All he could think about was being close to her and kissing her and hugging her and fucking her…they shoulda stayed home where there was more room for that, and no one would be looking at what was his. Why had he brought her here, instead of staying home? Oh yeah…the Ten Patch!
And all of a sudden there was chirping, followed by Joss apologizing, "I'm getting a text," she said to him, but made no move to answer it, just remained there in Tig's arms, waiting for him to stop, or continue or do whatever it was that he was going to do, all the control was his…she was so perfect.
It sparked even more desire within Tig, but he had to let it diminish…for at least a little while, he had to take her into the chapel and show her the Ten Patch, tell her what it meant, and who it represented and why. Besides, the club wanted to see her, each one of them, even Jax, had asked his permission to say their own formal "thank you" to her, and Tig had obliged. He had to present her tonight, there was no way around that, and really, Joss deserved the attention, too. But after that, he could take her back home…and see what it was going to take to burn off this sexual, sensual, love-struck humor …but he loved this 'combustible' stage. "It's okay, see who it is." He told her, letting her go. "I need a sec anyway," he half smiled and carefully adjusted himself on the bike…and elsewhere.
Joss laughed, her red lips still kiss swollen, but her lipstick un-smudged…how'd she do that? She cast a furtive glance towards him, but her eyes were down, not up, and she smiled a little more. "We can take care of that first if you want to," she offered, just before she pulled her phone out of her pocket.
"Later," Tig answered, because the dorms were likely occupied about now, and there was no end in sight to what he felt like he needed from her or with her. He slapped at his groin a little and sought a distraction, looking at Joss's phone in her hands. "So which Lauren is that?"
Joss sighed then shrugged her shoulders a little like she was trying to play innocent. "It's Tara, actually." She tried to sound like she wasn't surprised, but Tig knew she was. "She's sent me two texts tonight, the first one came in before we left the house, but I…was busy." She smiled at him, like she hoped Tig would think about that and not about who she'd said was texting her.
"Tara?" Tig groaned and whined all at the same time…well, he had been seeking something to be ice water to his dick, and now he had it. Joss nodded, sliding her phone open to reply. "Let me see," Tig immediately said, but he wasn't really asking her, just reached over and grabbed the phone out of her hands. Joss sighed her disapproval at him, but didn't challenge him, watching as Tig began to move his fingers and thumbs over the keyboard for a very short amount of time then hit "send."
"Okay, so what did you just do that I'm going to have to fix later?" She asked him as he handed her phone back, trying to sound like she wasn't worried, or upset that he'd done that, but she kinda was, Tig could hear it in her voice and see it in her sharp, green eyes.
"Told her to 'go away,'" he said unabashedly. "And you're not fixing it!"
"Tig," Joss sighed again and looked like she really wanted to flip open her phone and start fixing it now, but she didn't. "Okay, so we had a fight, but she's still my friend. And she wouldn't be texting me if she wasn't sorry."
"What the fuck, Joss?" Tig suddenly exploded; he just couldn't believe this. "Baby, she sold you out! How do you think I found out about Opie? It was because your rat girlfriend came over and pissed in my ear," Joss listened, looked a little surprised, but not near as angry as he'd hoped she'd look. "She's not your 'friend,' and I don't want you talking to her anymore!" Joss started to shake her head in protest, wanting to speak, but Tig was quick to both grab her under the chin and lift her head up, while pointing his other finger at her. "No!" he told her sternly. "I didn't protect you from shit like her enough before, but I'll be damned before I let it happen again!" He promised. "Let that worthless cunt rot!"
Joss's shoulders stooped and she was looking downwards, even though Tig held her chin. Shit, why'd it always seem to flash this way? Go from being all kissing and touching and feeling to yelling at her and making her look at him like she was now. Fuck! "Joss," he sighed. "I'm not repealing that, I'm sorry," he said first, making her look at him again. "But you know how I feel about you now, and that's why I'm doing it, baby," he paused and then kissed her mouth, not surprised when she didn't kiss him back actively, at least, not at first. He stroked her hair, tried to look sorry, but he really wasn't, and he had a feeling that showed through. "You don't have to agree with me, little girl, but just tell me you understand."
Joss sighed, rolled her eyes at him, but ultimately, she was able to give him some semblance of a smile, and both her hands reached forward, lying against his thighs. "Yes," she said, and nodded her head.