Chapter 17
Clarity
Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fine and I don't know why
If our love is tragedy why are you my remedy
If our love is insanity why are you my clarity
Jax groaned loudly as he pushed away from her. He jerked the door open roughly. "What," he shouted.
"Got a situation downstairs brother," Chibs informed him.
"Kind of busy."
"I can see that, but we need you down there. Sorry Haley."
Haley waved a hand at him before shaking her head. She sat up and grinned at Jax. "I'll see you later, I'm going to get ready for bed. Why don't you stay in here tonight? With me."
"All right, I'll be back," Jax assured her before leaving the room.
Haley shut the door behind him before going into the bathroom. She kicked off her heels and removed her jeans. She carefully took off her jewelry, putting all of it away. She washed her face, before changing into a buttonup shirt that Jax had left in her room. It was a soft flannel, that fell to mid-thigh.
Haley brushed her fingers through her hair before climbing to the bed. She knew Jax would love that she was wearing his shirt. After that guy had kissed her, something in her had snapped. She wanted Jax, she knew he wanted her too. She settled into the sheets and fell back against the pillows.
Haley curled up on her side, staring at the other wall. Her eyes grew heavy and she yawned softly. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. She stirred slightly when the door opened but she didn't wake. The bed sank as someone sat on it, and Haley shifted toward the warmth. She rolled onto her back, a small smile graced her face as he began to kiss her neck.
Haley let out a soft sigh, shifting against the bed as he began to undo the shirt. Her hands came up to grasp the sides of his head as he kissed her neck. Her fingers threaded into his hair, and she realized that it was too short, the wrong texture. This hair was shorter, curly texture.
Haley's eyes flew open and she let out a scream when she realized who was hovering over her. She shoved Josh away as she attempted to scramble out of the bed. He pushed her back down, covering her mouth with one hand. Haley bit down on his hand, letting out a bloodcurdling scream as she struggled against him.
"Let go of me," she shouted as she pushed at him.
"Come on baby, don't be like that," Josh murmured against her skin.
"Stop," Haley pleaded as she struggled against him. She screamed again and she could hear footsteps pounding down the hallway. The door burst open and men began shouting. Someone jerked Josh off the bed, and hit him hard. Haley sat up and pulled the sheets up around her neck.
"What the hell is going on in here," Clay demanded.
"He attacked me, I... I thought he was someone else."
"Who," Clay asked.
"Me, she thought it was me," Jax said as he shoved Josh toward the door. "I want him out of here, out of the club, take his cut. He's not one of us anymore."
"You don't get to make that call," Josh shouted at Jax.
"No, but I do," Duke, the president from Tacoma, replied. "I think she gets to decide. What do you want us to do about him?"
Everyone turned their attention to Haley and she shifted back against the headboard. "I... I... I don't want him here anymore. I want him out, out of the club."
Duke nodded and jerked the cut off of Josh's shoulders. "Get him out of here," Clay ordered. "Everyone out of her room."
Jax stayed as everyone else cleared out. He shut the door behind them, making sure to lock it. He quickly pulled his jeans and shoes off before he joined her in the bed. She immediately shifted over to him, letting him wrap his arms around her. Jax pulled her legs over his lap as she buried her face against his chest.
Jax held her as she began sobbing. Her fingers clutched at his t-shirt as he ran a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry," Jax said softly.
"This isn't your fault," Haley said through her tears. "I should have locked the door. I thought he was you, Jax. I didn't realize, I'm sorry."
"You're apologizing to me because an asshole attacked you?"
"Yes," Haley said as she burst into a fresh round of sobs.
Jax kissed the top of head as he pulled her closer. She drew in a deep breath as she tried to get control of her sobs. She rested her head against his shoulder, her forehead touching his neck. Jax held her as she slowly stopped crying.
"What's going on," Jax asked. Haley shook her head at him, pressing closer to him. "Angel, talk to me."
"Its... its everything Jax, its all of it, my mom, Ryan, being attacked, everything." She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. "It feels like everything is falling apart and coming together at the same time. I don't know how to feel, I don't know what to do. I just want... I want things to be easy. Then this guy... he comes in here and I'm wearing your shirt, and I thought we would, but now I'm sobbing all over you."
"You thought we would what," Jax asked.
"Oh my god, you know what I mean," Haley cried.
Jax chuckled lowly as he brushed the tears off her face. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know what you mean, but I was hoping you'd say it."
"Why do you want me to say it?"
"Cause it'll be hot."
"You are such a guy," Haley muttered. She kissed him on the cheek before shifting away from him. "So you do like the shirt?"
"I'm having a hard time not ripping it off you."
Haley glanced down an realized that it was still unbuttoned part of the way. The button just below her breasts was still done, but both her breasts were slightly visible. Jax carefully did the buttons back up for her.
"I thought I was ready, I did, but after what happened, I just need some more time. I want you Jax, I do, but I feel like everytime I turn around someone is trying to take advantage of me. I'll make it worth your wait, I promise," Haley assured him.
"Don't worry about it," he said. "Let's get some sleep."
Jax settled down on the bed pulling Haley down next to him. She settled against his side, her head coming to rest against his chest. She drew in a deep breath and willed herself to relax. Jax could feel the tension slowly draining from her body as she nestled against him.
Jax let his fingers trail through her hair before wrapping his arm around her. She let out a soft sigh as she pushed closer to his body. Her leg shifted over his, and dropped between his legs. She felt safe for the first time in days, safer than she'd felt in a long time.
"I'm glad I came back," she whispered.
"I'm glad you came home."