Chapter 23
Tara watches the clock from her Geometry class. Thankfully, she knows her math or else she may be worried about failing her final since she has rushed through it. Jax left after having dropped her off at school, saying he had something important to handle but would be back in time to pick her up for the day. She only has one more final and then she will be ready to go. And he needed to be back before that as well. It was one thing to blow off shop, he had already turned in his final project, a lamp, for that. But he couldn't miss their English final. She notices movement at the back door to the classroom and for a moment thinks she has conjured her boyfriend up. Quickly, she realizes he's really there and she smiles at him but it is obvious he wants her to come out. Something is wrong, something is bothering him and it only takes her minute to ask the teacher if she can be excused. "Jax, what are you doing?" Tara asks in shock as he drags her down the corridor without a word or a kiss even.
He needed her after his shit morning. Every red light to Oakland he had to hear Opie going on about how his porn collection was messed up. And didn't he think that's what the girls were doing in his room the other night? At first Jax laughed it off, Tara watching porn? But his stupid ass best friend seemed convinced. Apparently, Donna was extra hot and bothered that night. Tara sure wasn't, in fact, he did not get laid that night, but he was not telling Opie that. What he got that night was so much more heartbreaking yet more beautiful than anything. Tara shared her heart with him. Which makes it really hard to be irritated with her but he is. And he plans on letting her know this too as he finds the supply closet and thrust both of them into it.
"Jax?" She demands haughtily. "What are you doing?"
"Looking for the damn light." He whispers. "There has to be one in here."
"Over here." She huffs just before pulling on a chain, closer to the door, and illuminating the tiny space with hardly any light.
"How the hell does anyone see with that?" Seriously, the light had to be less than twenty watts.
"They leave the door open." Tara replies dryly. "Now what is wrong with you?" She demands.
"Oh, nothing." He answers sarcastically. "I went into Oakland this morning for you."
"Oakland?" Momentarily, she's confused, then a mega-watt smile comes to her face, much brighter than the shitty lighting in this closet. "You went to the clinic?" She was wondering when he'd get there. It had only been a few days since their conversation and she didn't want to pressure him but she was getting anxious.
"Ugh-huh." He nods rapidly. "And do you know what they did to me, Tara?" He says completely affronted.
Did they hurt him? She was so confused. "What?" She demands anxiously.
"They shoved a giant q-tip in my dick!" He motions with both hands to the dick in discussion and Tara bites her lip not to laugh. "A giant, big ass q-tip Tara!"
"I'm sorry baby." She tries to sound sincere, tries really hard. But what did he expect? Did he think that shit was pleasant for her when they did it?
"I'm serious Tara!" God, she loves the way he says her name, even when he's upset. "That shit hurt and I feel…."
"Violated?" She shrugs a bit and can no longer contain her smile. She places her notebook on the small space on the shelf available.
"No!" Jax huffs offensively. "But you did not prepare me for that. I thought it would be just a blood test." He looks to the area on his elbow covered with a band-aid where they did in fact draw his blood.
"So, what you're saying is?" Tara wraps her arms around his neck. "If you knew what to expect, you wouldn't have gotten it done?"
"No, I'm not saying that." He is certain that's how he's supposed to answer that trick question. "I'm just saying, you owe me big time after that."
"Owe you how?" He can see her mind working and his dick must not be worse for the wear because it hardens immediately.
"I don't know." He shrugs, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer to him. "What do you have in mind, Knowles?" Instead of responding verbally, she leans up and kisses him as her hands start to unbuckle his belt. "Here?" It would be difficult but he was sure he could find a surface available to place her on and be inside of her in seconds. He reaches to lift her thigh up just as she grips his hard length in her tiny hand. Before he knows it, she's on her knees. "Tara?" He gets even harder, if possible, at the sight. Never did he let this idea cross his mind today.
"I owe you, right?" The desire is so evident in her voice.
"I didn't mean this." He assures her, wanting to kick himself at the same time. He'd been thinking about her doing this for weeks. Why exactly is he trying to stop her? "I don't want you to feel like you have to do this."
"I want to do this for you." She completely pushes his jeans and boxers over his ass and his erection springs free. Suddenly her nerves are back in full force and she's thankful for the shitty lighting. She uses her hand along his length as she has often before as she tries to recall Donna's drunken words of instruction from the other night.
Sensing her nervousness, he runs his thumbs over her cheeks and guides her gaze up to his. "Get up here," he smiles. He never wants to push her into anything she isn't ready for.
Instead of her rising to meet him as he expects, she tosses him a sexy ass grin and before he knows it, her lips are wrapped around his cock and he groans. Goddamn, she's so hot. She quickly learns why Donna told her to use her hand because her tongue is no match compared to Jax's length. She tries to concentrate on her breathing, slow and deep through her nose but can't help take note of Jax's erratic breathing, coming out in ragged, short bursts. She times her wrist movements along with her mouth, up and down his cock perfectly.
He's mindful not to thrust into her mouth but God she feels so good like this and it takes all his self-control not to. He wraps his fingers in her hand and pulls it back so he can watch her mouth on him. The sight it almost too much for him. He's going to come and he's going to come hard and fast. "Tara?" But she either doesn't hear him or ignores him. He reaches for the one hand she has digging into his hip. When she feels his touch her eyes meet him but her rhythm never stops. "Babe, you got to stop." She doesn't. "Tara, I'm going to…" At just that moment her teeth suddenly apply a bit of pressure and his dick hits the back of her throat and it is too late. He's coming, harder than he can ever remember. He tries to slow it down, to control it, to not gag his girlfriend and to not scare the shit out of her. In all honesty, he's not sure he accomplishes any of those goals. His hand grips the shelf behind him for support as he practically falls into it for support. He's out of breath as though he did any of the work. He knows he probably has the goofiest grin on his face right now but he can't help it. Tara rises up and looks at him uncertainly. "You're so fuckin' hot, babe." He pulls her to him and tangles his tongue with hers, tasting himself on her.
"It was ok?" She pulls back, "I didn't hurt you at the end, did I?"
"Nah, babe." His goofy grin still in place. "It was perfect. You were perfect." He runs his hand over her ass. "We need to get out of here. Go to your place or mine or take a ride." He kisses her again. "Anywhere we can be alone for a while so I can return the favor."
"Nice try, Teller." She teases. "Pull your pants up. We have an English final to take."
He didn't give a shit about this final. He was almost certain he wasn't coming back to school in the fall but he hasn't told her that yet. "I'm a little concerned that you'd rather take an English final" He replies instead while buckling his jeans. "Than have a mind-blowing orgasm."
"Oh, I'll get my mind-blowing orgasm." She teases by running her tongue over his bottom lip. "After our final." She reaches for her notebook and his hand. "Now come on." She instructs. "And turn out that light."
Just when Jax thought this day couldn't get any better, the first person to see them coming out of the closet drops his mouth in shock. Oh hell yes, take that David Hale. "Hale." Jax nods, goofy grin still in place. He's thinking he'll probably keep it the whole day.
"Teller." David clears his throat. "Tara."
Tara felt so uncomfortable. Why were they the only three in the hallway? She wanted the ground to swallow her up. Feeling Jax's arm tighten over her shoulders, she barrows closer to his embrace. It was so obvious what they had been doing in that closet. And as usual when she was with Jax, she gave no thought to anything beyond that moment. "Good luck with finals, David." She says instead, not meeting his gaze and Jax leads her towards English. She smacks him hard in his stomach.
"Ouch." He laughs. "What was that for?"
"You know what that was for." She retorts saucily.
"What?" He laughs again. "I didn't know he'd be there." Even he could admit that the timing was perfect. Tara was his. And Hale needed to back the hell up. He stops just outside their classroom and silences her reply with a deep kiss. "Tara, I…" He's cut off by the bell.
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Tara doesn't think anything can ruin her good mood. Finals are over and summer is here. As she brushes her hair at the bathroom mirror, visions of her and Jax riding to Walnut Grove and beyond fill her head and bring a smile to her lips. She'll have to get some type of job since Jax will be working more hours at TM. It will keep her busy plus give her more cash to spend. She hates that Jax is always the one paying for things.
She smiles as the phone rings, betting on it being Jax. She's supposed to meet him at the clubhouse. They're going to hang out with Opie and Donna and celebrate the end of the school year. "Hello!" She grins at the happiness in her voice, hardly recognizing herself these days.
"Hi, doll." Comes a woman's voice, rough from years of smoking. Tara recognizes the bartender instantly. "It's Meg, down here at The Hairy Dog? Think you can come drag your old man out of here for a couple hours. He's starting shit with some yuppies."
And there went her happiness. It had been months since she had to go and do this. She was going to be late meeting Jax. "Sure Meg." Tara sighs. "I'll be there in a few."
"I don't know why the fuck that bitch called you." Frank grumbles several minutes later as he gets into the passenger seat of the Cutlass. "Those uppity pricks were the ones starting shit."
"Dad," Tara tries for a placating tone. "It's no big deal. I'll make you some dinner and you can come back later." She looks around for his keys. "After the uppity pricks leave. Where are your keys?"
"Right here." He tosses them at her. "And be careful. We don't need Unser's old ass pulling you over."
"I have my learner's permit." She reminds him.
"When did you get that?" He fumbles with the seatbelt before giving up and tossing it back. The metal buckle hits the window with a thud, amazingly not cracking with window.
"Last month." She replies, pulling out onto Main Street. "You signed the slip, remember?"
"Yea." Clearly, that was a lie. Suddenly noting his daughter's appearance, "Where the hell are you going tonight?" He demands.
"Out with friends to celebrate." Tara is starting to lose her patience. "Our last final was today."
"With the biker?" Frank slurs.
"Yeeeeessss with Jax." She rolls her eyes, hating that her father couldn't call him by his name.
"The town is talking about you two." He shouts. "My daughter is becoming a goddamn crow-eater. It's disgusting."
"I am not!" She shouts, swerving to the left a little bit. "Can we not fight about this right now? I'm trying not to get pulled over, remember?"
"When can we fight then?" Tara cringes when he pulls a pint out from the glove box and takes a shot. That had to taste disgusting. It was eighty five degrees outside. "You're always off playing whore." She pulls the car into their driveway and runs inside, hoping to get the keys hidden before he makes his way into the house. "We're not done!" Frank yells just before slamming the front door.
"I'm already late." She storms past him but she's not quick enough as he grabs her by the elbow and pushes her hard against the living room wall.
"Biker boy too good to pick you up at home?" Frank snarls.
"He's working." She defends. "I'm meeting him there."
"I thought you were smarter than that, Tara." The whiskey wreaks off of him and makes her stomach turn. "I thought you had your momma's brain. You think you mean anything to this punk kid?"
She refuses to give him the satisfaction of her tears. She hated how mean he could be. "YES!" She shouts, pushing at him "Yes, I do think I mean something to him."
Her father stares at her several seconds. "Oh, Jesus fucking Christ, you think he loves you?" His laugh is sarcastic and cruel and cuts worse than any of his words have ever done.
"I don't know." With her whispered reply comes a silent tear, "But he never makes me feel the way you are making me feel right now!" This time when she pushes him, the six foot man moves aside easily. She doesn't hesitate making a break for it and getting out of the front door as fast as possible.
"You think you are giving him anything that dozens of other girls haven't?" He opens the door and shouts down the street. She's too busy with her power walk to be embarrassed. "Prettier girls than you, Tara? You think you're better than them?" She's not sure if he goes back into the house or she's just made it far enough away that she can no longer him, but either way she is thankful. She needs Jax. He can fix all those ugly, hateful words her father launched at her in his embrace. And tonight she'll finally tell him that she loves him. Even if he can't say the words back to her, even if he doesn't feel the same way, she's willing to wait. Jackson Teller was the first person to ever care about her, the first person that made her feel beautiful, and she'd wait as long as it took. Because she knows he feels something deeper and more powerful than he's ever felt before. Isn't that what love was? Sharing your heart with someone else? Showing them the pain, the ugly, and the beautiful?
By the time she makes her way to the gates at TM, Tara's breathing has calmed and her face is dry finally. But nothing, no vile words, no man-handling from her father has ever hurt as bad as the sight she stumbles upon just outside the garage. Her world is literally crumbling before her eyes.