A/N: don't own don't sue
Lyrics at the beginning are from 'Long Way Down' by Daughtry
Set around Season One, before Abel is kidnapped and Gemma is raped and Jax turns into a jerk and the whole club hates each other. Generally back when the show had fun and all the coolest characters were still alive. Because I can, it's called artistic license.
Learn My Lesson
Chapter Thirty
Dusty roads, hopeless nights
Looking at… the blinding lights
Saw your ghost, here tonight
It lingers on and, I feel your life
Pulling me back to the place
But the thought of staring back at you is more than I can face
And it's a long way down
From where I used to rest my head
And it's safe and sound
If only I could turn around
There's no direction where I stand
Just dead end signs and wasted land
And its a long way down… to you
She was gone when Chibs woke up, already in the shower and he scrubbed his hands over his face. He felt better after a good night's sleep and a blowjob. Truly the best way to a man's heart, he thought ruefully as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. It was still early, he determined from the light filtering through the window and the level of noise from the clubhouse. He had time to shower and throw down a coffee before he had to be in the garage. She skipped out of the bathroom happily, wrapped in a barely-there towel with her wet hair streaming down her bare back.
"Good morning, handsome." She smiled, leaning down to brush his mouth with hers.
He watched her as she dressed, cupping his dick as it surged when he watched her slide on one of those tiny thongs she wore. She looked at him thoughtfully as she brushed her damp hair, curious at the look on his face.
"Come here, lass." He held out a hand to her and she took it with a wary smile, hoping he wasn't about to yell at her again. "I'm sorry."
She goggled at him in amazement. He never apologised to her verbally.
"I overreacted and I behaved like a total prick." He admitted, peering up at her earnestly.
Her face split into a smile and she squeezed his hand.
"You certainly did." She agreed. "Thank you for apologising, I forgive you."
He smirked, lifting the hand in his to his lips and brushing a kiss to the back of her hand. She kissed his forehead and stroked the back of his neck before heading for the main clubhouse to let him get ready.
Chibs lit another cigarette, checking the time on his phone again. He didn't like being this far away from her for so long, especially not when he still had that strange feeling that something was going on that he didn't know about. The meet was due in five minutes. All he had to do was pick up a package and then he could be out of here. He glanced around the room to pass the time. It was a very nice room for a simple meet, in fact it even had a fancy suite name. The bed was huge with gauzy curtains drifting from the four posts, the carpet beneath his feet was plush and bouncy and there was a soft-looking cream sofa before a huge marble fireplace. He wondered idly who he was meeting and what he was picking up. Clay hadn't clarified when he'd ordered him to be at this address under a fake name at this time. In fact he'd seemed irritable about the whole thing. The place was undoubtedly fancy, not unlike the place he'd picked for his grand gesture to win her back to him.
A knock on the door startled him and he hurriedly stubbed the cigarette out on his boot and slid the butt into his pocket. No need to be leaving DNA evidence around, after all. He got to his feet, touching the gun at the small of his back with one hand. He peered suspiciously through the peep hole, but all he could see was a hood. He pulled the door open, still grasping his gun for his own protection. He gaped in amazement, letting go of his gun in shock.
A familiar smirk greeted him, sparkling green eyes ringed by thick sooty lashes eyed him in amusement. She still had the hood up, but she had unbuttoned the coat she was wearing to reveal an outfit that was certainly not fit for public consumption.
"What-" He couldn't even string a sentence together, his brain short-fusing in confusion.
"Aren't you going to let me in?" She asked in a sultry voice.
He reached out and grabbed her hand, yanking her through the door.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, unable to take his eyes off her as she sauntered deeper into the room. "You can't be out in public looking like that, what if someone sees you?"
"That's not very nice." She chided playfully, circling around the room curiously.
Chibs was still trying to get his head around her being here, in that outfit.
"I'm here on business." He managed to get out, watching the dangerous heels of her stilettos pierce the plush carpet as she walked.
"Picking up a parcel." She said without turning back to him, running her hand over the marble fireplace.
He still hadn't figured it out, his brain was too overwhelmed to put the dots together as she turned back around to face him.
"I'm the parcel." She laughed, pushing the hood back to release her hair in a torrent of soft curled red waves.
"Lass-" He was still confused but all rational thought fled his mind as she let the coat slide from her body to pool at her feet.
She put her hands on her hips and tilted her body proudly, so he could take in the full effect. She had had several conversations with Lolita to ensure she picked up the correct lingerie for her. She had opted for emerald green satin to clash with her hair. A fitted bra that shaped her cleavage ,and unbuttoned at the front, he noted absently. Instead of her usual thongs she had chosen underwear that was cut high so it emphasised her hips in a way that made his mouth water. Her scar was hidden slightly by a matching lace suspender belt which attached to sheer black stockings that made her legs go on forever.
He just stared and stared, his brain completely malfunctioning as she preened at his reaction.
"Happy birthday, Scottish." She murmured, prowling towards him.
She coiled her arms around his neck, pressing her warm scented body against his. He could feel every inch of her through the thin satin.
"There's no meet?" He asked, still trying to clear his thoughts at the sudden turn of events.
"Just me." She confirmed, stroking the back of his neck with her fingernails.
"I'm not here on business?" He had to be sure, because he was finding it difficult to conjure up any coherent thoughts.
"I'm the only business you have tonight." She purred, turning his head so she could nibble at his earlobe. "We have the whole night… to do whatever you want."
She slipped her hand between them, palming him through his jeans.
"It is your birthday, after all." She bit down on his ear, sharply enough for him to break out of the fog.
He stood there in bemused silence as she stripped him down, removing his gun and putting it on the bedside table and sliding his jacket from his shoulders. When he sat down on the edge of the bed, the disposable phone in his pocket dug into his thigh and he pulled it out. Flashing on the display was a message from an unknown number.
have fun u lucky motherfucker
He finally relaxed, tossing the phone beside his gun and focusing fully on her. Somehow, she had planned all of this. He studied the lingerie up close as she stood between his knees to strip his shirt from him. It looked expensive and classy, nothing like the tat the porn stars he knew wore. He made a mental note to break Juice's neck if it turned out he'd gotten it for her.
"You like it?"
He looked up at her, stroking his hands up the backs of her thighs to the bare skin peeking above the lacy edge of the stockings. The expression on his face was all the response he could give her, squeezing the backs of her thighs lightly as she massaged his bare shoulders. Unable to help himself, he leaned forwards and pressed his mouth between her breasts. She gave a little sigh, her nails digging into his shoulders slightly.
"Are ya gonna tie me up again?" He asked cheekily, sliding his fingers under the satin and caressing the curves of her cheeks.
"If you want me to." She lifted her eyebrows teasingly, pushing her hands into his hair. "It's your birthday, honey."
He flashed her a wicked grin, pulling her closer so he could run his tongue along the edge of the bra. He contemplated asking her how she knew it was his birthday when he never told anyone or celebrated it, but he had an idea how and he didn't want to invoke another man's name between them when she was standing before him like a half-naked goddess.
"This is for me?" He squeezed her cheeks, pressing a kiss to her breast.
"Of course." She purred, tugging lightly on his hair. "But you're overdressed for the occasion."
She finished undressing him slowly, exchanging long lingering kisses in between each item of clothing being removed. He took hold of her and pushed backwards with his feet so they tumbled onto the bed together and he held her tightly against him. His hands roamed her body as they kissed, stroking every inch of exposed skin he could reach and soaking up the sexy slither of the satin.
"These, need to come off." He ordered as her heel pinched his calf accidentally.
He crawled down the bed to her feet, being very careful not to allow his erection to come anywhere near the dangerous looking stilettos. Even her shoes were classy, he noted idly as he unbuckled them and tossed them off the edge of the bed. He massaged her feet through the stockings after he removed the punishing shoes, enjoying the little moans of pleasure she emitted.
"These can stay." He teased, stroking his hands up her stockinged legs one by one.
She giggled as he kissed his way up her legs, brushing feather-light kisses over her bare skin at the top of the stockings. Making his way up to her navel, he pinged the elastic holding up her stockings with his teeth.
"These." He blew a warm breath onto the satin of her underwear and she shivered. "Definitely need to go."
She laughed, sprawled back against the cushions as he tucked his fingers into the band of the underwear and started to peel them down. He took his time, teasing her as he slowly exposed her sensitive flesh. He followed the underwear down her thighs with his mouth, barely there kisses that made her squirm impatiently.
"Ah, sweetheart." He sighed as he pulled the underwear from her body. "You're the gift that keeps on giving."
She smiled seductively up at him, the jewel-bright lingerie emphasising her fair freckled skin and the brightness of her hair. He knelt back and just looked at her, savouring the sight of her sprawled wantonly before him. He imprinted it on his mind for safe-keeping. With a smirk he lifted the underwear up and ran it through his fingers. Her eyes had darkened with desire and he made sure they were fixed on him when he took the soft material and wrapped it around his aching erection. She let out a little gasp, a tremor coursing through her body as if she could feel the touch of him through the satin. He massaged her stockinged thigh with one hand as he used the other to stroke himself with the satin underwear.
"You're a tease." She groaned, tipping her head back against the pillow.
He gave a dark chuckle at the very idea. She had been teasing him unmercifully since the moment they met, from the way her toes curled when she was excited to the flicker of her eyelashes when she glanced at him across the room. His grip on her thigh tightened marginally as he worked the soft material along his shaft.
He watched her running her hands over her bare navel and the valley between her breasts, her eyes fixed on the movement between his legs. When she bit down on her lower lip, his grip tightened automatically. Before her hands could drift any lower, he let go of himself and caught her hands in his.
"Oh no, sweetheart." He breathed, looming over her. "Only I get to touch you today."
She pouted at him sulkily as he lifted her hands above her head. The action pushed her breasts up towards him and he took advantage to litter them with kisses until she squirmed.
"That's not fair." She complained breathlessly, glaring up at him as he smirked down on her.
He cocked his head, his eyes flashing playfully.
"Maybe I'll put something on that smart mouth of yours to keep it under control."
She glowered at him mutinously, lifting her hips sharply under him.
"You like my mouth." She pointed out, coiling her legs around his waist.
He didn't bother replying, pressing his mouth down on hers.
He felt her flinch suddenly beneath his fingers and he drew back, lifting an enquiring eyebrow. Her eyes was dancing mischievously at him, a smirk curling her lips.
"That's your other present." She said slyly.
He stared at her suspiciously as she wiggled her hips beneath him. Taking her hint, he gently lifted his fingers where they'd clamped down on the swell of her hip. He had been so distracted when he'd stripped her of the underwear, he hadn't even noticed the patch of red skin on the outside of her hip. She rolled her hip towards him so he could look properly. It was a small tattoo, about the size of his thumb, the surrounding skin still a little raised and inflamed from the needle.
"It's a… scarecrow?" He hazarded cheekily, leaning closer to study the slender black lines.
"You know very well it's a thistle, Scottish." She glared at him challengingly.
He stroked the ink with the tip of his finger, watching goosebumps spring up on her bare skin. A thistle. The emblem of Scotland. She had known better than to get anything related to the club, or god forbid a crow, but she had chosen something linked to him.
"Well?"
He glanced down at her, she was peering up at him imperiously.
"Who did it?"
She rolled her eyes, a faint blush staining her freckled cheeks.
"Happy." She admitted grudgingly.
Chibs let go of her hands and sat back. Normally he would have flown into a jealous temper immediately, but he was trying to be better. He stared at the mark that would normally be covered by the lacy underwear she favoured. She made it extremely difficult.
"You let him…" He couldn't even say the words, red hot jealousy was cascading over him like lava.
"I was fully dressed, for god's sake." She protested, pushing herself into a sitting position on the bed. "He was a complete gentleman."
Chibs turned that bizarre thought over in his mind for a moment while he calmed himself down. It wasn't really such an intimate place, if it had been her inner thigh he'd have had to take a swing at the silent giant, and that would have ended badly for all involved. And she had done it for him, had literally had a symbol for him etched into her skin permanently.
She was stroking his bare thighs gently, letting the tips of her nails rake his sensitive skin the way he liked. Her face was completely open as she waited for him to wrestle his demons. He lunged forwards suddenly and she fell back with a stifled shriek. He pinned her hands above her head again.
"I like it, lass." He rumbled, dipping his head to run his tongue along her pulse-point. "But there's to be no more talking of other men tonight."
Her breasts brushed against his bare chest teasingly as she laughed.
"You're the one bringing them up." She taunted.
He nipped the soft skin of her neck warningly, lifting his thigh between hers until she squirmed.
She woke as he was coaxing a fire to life in the big fireplace, propping her head up so she could watch him. He was still naked, rather bravely considering the fire was spitting, crouched by the fireplace as he worked. The warm flickering orange light played over the muscles in his arms and back and glinted off the silver threading through his hair. She could see his strong thighs from where he was crouching, the curve of his butt. Her body was aching pleasantly from their activities earlier, but it still sparked to life at the sight of him. How was she ever going to let him go. She pushed the thought away, it was his birthday evening and they were going to make the most of it, she was not going to dwell on what ifs.
"Looking good, Scottish." She wolf whistled at him and he glared at her over his shoulder.
She sat up and stretched luxuriously, surprised she'd managed to sleep in the fancy lingerie. Then she remembered the activities that had worn her out and she smiled. She slid down from the big bed and padded across the thick lush carpet towards him.
"A romantic crackling fire." She said, taking a seat on the carpet beside him.
He gave her a sidelong look and she grinned.
"I've always wanted to make love by the fire." She simpered daintily, fluttering her eyelashes at him.
He rolled his eyes, a faint flush on his cheeks as he pulled out the blankets he'd retrieved from the wardrobe. She beamed at him, taking the blankets and making a little nest with the cushions from the sofa, close enough for the fire to keep them warm but not to risk any injuries to vulnerable appendages.
"Has this birthday been worth celebrating?" She asked, snuggling in beside him and placing a kiss on his bare shoulder.
He didn't respond, but he looked at her more tenderly than he ever had before. She blushed prettily, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. They both leaped out of their skin when a short rap on the door echoed loudly. Chibs was on his feet immediately, running to the bed to grab his gun.
"Wait." She grabbed his arm to stop him. "It's okay."
He frowned at her but she turned away as a second knock sounded. When she moved towards the door, he grabbed her and yanked her back.
"You ain't answering the door looking like that." He snarled, jealousy flooding his body at the very idea.
"What's wrong with how I look?" She snapped, thoroughly offended.
He gave her a disbelieving look and she turned pink, remembering she was mostly naked.
"No one, is going to see you wearing this but me." He pulled on her wrist so she fell against him. "Understand?"
She gave a little scoffing laugh, but obediently grabbed the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around herself so she could answer the door. Chibs couldn't see who was at the door and all he heard was Naomi saying thank you in a sweeter than honey voice. When she turned around she was holding a cake. A birthday cake complete with candles. She looked so smugly proud that he almost wanted to laugh as she kicked the door closed behind her with her foot. She didn't sing to him, thank Christ, as she let the sheet drop from her body and advanced on him with the cake.
"They sent you a cake?" He questioned, eyeing the burning candles doubtfully.
"I made it." She flushed bright red. "I just asked them to provide the candles and bring it up."
He felt a wave of affection wash pleasantly over him, making his whole body tingle. This woman. This goddamn woman. He leaned over and blew out the candles, taking the cake from her and placing it on the coffee table by the sofa out of the way. They re-situated themselves into the nest of blankets, enjoying the quiet after the noise of the clubhouse, watching the fire grow. It was, without a doubt, the best birthday he'd had in a long time. He had even opened his mouth to tell her so, when his stomach let out a loud grumble and he realised he hadn't eaten since lunch on his way here. She laughed, crawling over to his discarded jeans, offering him a tempting view on her way, and dug his knife out of its sheath. She knelt teasingly before him for a moment, playing with the knife, before she cut a big chunk of cake and handed it to him.
"That's for protection." He protested, eyeing the knife now covered in buttercream and icing.
She put a finger dripping buttercream into her mouth, her lips pursing as she sucked it clean and he forgot his complaints. They devoured the cake with their bare hands, occasionally feeding pieces to each other. She smeared icing onto his bare shoulders and licked it off, exchanging lazy messy kisses while their mouths were smeared with buttercream.
"Help me take this off." She said breathily, indicating the lingerie. "It's far too expensive to get icing all over."
Chibs wiped his hands down on a blanket and then got to work on the tiny buttons holding the bra together. They were surprisingly fiddly, and it was extremely distracting to be this close to her soft breasts. Eventually the material fell away and he took her breasts into his hands, massaging them gently. He hooked his thumbs into the suspender belt and drew it down her legs, followed by the stockings. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her scar, feeling the muscles in her belly contract underneath his mouth.
"You're stunning, lass."
He felt her shudder under him, his warm breath spreading over he bare skin.
"Everyone looks good in expensive underwear." She giggled, lying back amongst the blankets beside him.
He made a dismissive noise but didn't have the energy to argue, trailing his fingers over her bare skin lightly. They lay by the fire for a while, exchanging caresses and making out languidly, dozing on and off.
"Chibs." She said once the room had turned dark apart from the light of the fire.
"Hmmm?" He murmured lazily, watching the crackling flames peacefully.
"I want to say something." He tensed for a moment at the serious tone of her voice, then he relaxed. "I don't want you to think it's bigger than it is." He felt her sigh against him. "I just want to say something, in case I don't get to say it in the future."
He forced himself to relax, to not automatically panic when things got intense. He continued to stroke her bare back with his fingertips, but he rolled his head towards her to show she had his attention.
"I care about you." She said slowly, using the tip of her finger to trace the outline of his tattoos as she always did when she was nervous. "A lot." She pursed her lips thoughtfully, and he could only see the glimmer of her eyes through her lashes as she watched her finger's movements. "I don't want to say love because that's crazy, right. People don't fall in love after a few weeks." She laughed and then she sighed, dropping her head so her forehead rested on his chest. "But I want you to know, a hundred per cent, that I care about you a lot."
He soaked in her words for a while, mulling them over in his head. Instead of panicking and pusher her away again, he let his emotions churn around for a while so he could sift through them. He found that it wasn't unpleasant, he'd had his walls up for so long after Fiona that it was odd to pull those old emotions out from the dark. When he was certain of what he wanted to say, that he meant what he was going to say, he chucked her under the chin to get her to look at him.
"I care about you too, sweetheart." He peered at her earnest face as she stared at him warily, trying to work out if he was just saying what she wanted to hear. "A hundred per cent."
She smiled shyly, colour flooding into her cheeks and she dipped her lashes to hide her eyes. She seemed to believe him because she didn't argue for once. She tipped her mouth towards his and he acquiesced with a grin. She slipped on top of him, her soft bare skin sliding against his teasingly. He'd been partially hard the entire time they'd been before the fire, who could be anything but with her naked body against theirs, and she coaxed him to full attention as they kissed, tongues gliding languorously together. She bit her lip and her eyes fluttered closed as he guided himself inside her. They moved lazily together, sharing whispers and kisses as she lay on top of him with her breasts squashed pleasantly against his chest, allowing him to manipulate her hips in rhythm with his slow thrusts.
"Happy birthday, baby." She murmured against his lips with a smirk as he shuddered underneath her, his grip so tight on her ass she knew she'd have bruises.