A/N: don't own don't sue
The lyrics at the beginning are from 'One More Night' by Maroon 5
Set after 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.
One More Night
Chapter Seven
You and I go hard at each other like we're going to war
You and I go rough, we keep throwing things and slamming the door
You and I get so damn dysfunctional, we start keeping score
You and I get sick, and I know that we can't do this no more
But baby there you go again, there you go again, making me love you
Yeah, I stopped using my head, using my head let it all go
Got you stuck on my body, on my body like a tattoo
And now I'm feeling stupid, feeling stupid crawling back to you
So I cross my heart and I hope to die
That I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night
Try to tell you no, but my body keeps on telling you yes
Try to tell you stop, but your lipstick got me so out of breath
I'll be waking up in the morning, probably hating myself
And I'll be waking up feeling satisfied, but guilty as hell
But baby there you go again, there you go again, making me love you
Yeah I stopped using my head, using my head let it all go
Got you stuck on my body, on my body like a tattoo
And now I'm feeling stupid, feeling stupid crawling back to you
So I cross my heart and I hope to die
That I'll only stay with you one more night
And I know I said it a million times
But I'll only stay with you one more night
Yeah baby give me one more night
Juice was on a smoke break at the garage, squinting in the burning heat as he watched Half-Sack park a rickety old jalopy in the next bay. Sweat was trickling down the back of his neck and speckling his bare arms. The heatwave hadn't broken yet, and working with power tools in overalls was something akin to torture. He swiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm as he stubbed out the butt of the smoke on the wall of the garage. His phone chirruped cheerfully in his pocket.
"Biker-boy."
Despite the heat, a shiver ran through his body. Her voice was like treacle and it made his palms sweat. He shot a glance around him, scoping out Jax and Clay a short distance away and Tig ribbing Half-Sack within earshot. He hurriedly scuttled around the wall of the garage, pressing the phone closer to his ear.
"Hi… hi… how are you?"
He silently cursed himself as she let out a breathy laugh down the line. Why could he not control his stupid mouth. They exchanged pleasantries briefly as he tried not to put his foot in his mouth, but she had never called him before and his stomach was twisting nervously.
"I need a favour."
He managed not to immediately agree without hearing the details. He forced himself to focus on her words and not her loin-weakening voice as she explained that she needed to leave town.
"You're leaving?" He blurted out, his heart sinking into his toes.
"Just overnight." He could hear her smiling on the phone and he knew he was blushing again. "A business meeting in San Diego."
He felt that odd sense of detachment from her again, the sudden realisation that her world was far away from his.
"Normally Elvis would come with me, of course." The flush of jealousy in his belly receded slightly when his brain reminded him that Elvis was her dog. "He's not been well and I don't want to make him travel."
Juice was too busy moping at the fact that she was leaving town, however briefly, and would probably meet a bunch of rich jerks in fancy suits who could sweep her off her feet, to take in what she was saying for a moment.
"Do you mind?"
He jerked out of his brooding fantasies and automatically agreed, not knowing what he'd just signed up for but thrilled to hear how happy she was with him through the line. It was only as Frankie listed Elvis's medicines and instructions that he realised he'd just agreed to dogsit for her.
"Thank you, Juice." She purred down the phone and he felt his pulse start to throb. "I'll owe you for this."
His brain flashed through the hundreds of ways he'd like to receive his reward, but he certainly couldn't start listing that kind of thing off in public with the guys around.
"It's no problem." He said gruffly, turning his shoulder away as he glimpsed Chibs on his way over to retrieve him.
"You're sweet." That goddamn sultry voice, he'd have agreed to almost anything. "I'll drop him off tonight."
Juice nodded as he watched Chibs get closer, licking his dry lips nervously.
"Sure, tonight."
She let out another one of those breathy laughs that made his whole body throb needily. He hurriedly ended the call before Chibs could fully approach him, feeling almost out of breath. It really wasn't normal to be affected so badly by a woman, no matter how sexy she was.
You're cleaning your apartment for a fucking dog, he thought irritably as he grabbed his laundry from the bedroom floor and tossed it into the overflowing hamper in his wardrobe. He had cleared the empty beer cans and takeaway boxes earlier, washed the minimal dishes piled in his sink and made sure all his pills were put in a top cupboard. The last thing he needed was to get her dog high, or worse, accidentally kill it. The buzzer rang and he jumped, almost dropping the pizza box in his hand that he hurriedly stuffed under the sink out of sight.
She was beaming prettily on the doorstep, dressed for her flight in slacks and a vest top with her long hair in a high ponytail. Elvis sat beside her looking a lot bigger than Juice remembered, his face particularly unimpressed. Realising he'd been staring at her for too long, he stepped back and gestured for her to enter.
"Can you grab the rest of his things for me, please?" She called over her shoulder as she prodded an unhappy-looking Elvis into the flat.
Things? Juice leaned out into the hallway, surprised to find a pile of dog belongings waiting for him. All this for one night? He grabbed the huge dog bed, piled high with blankets, toys, food and treats, and dragged it into his flat.
"I can't thank you enough." She gushed, taking the bed from him and setting it down by the TV. "I feel so much better knowing he's with someone I can trust."
Juice flushed, pleased. Elvis eyeballed him doubtfully. Frankie scooped up the scattered belongings from the bed and dumped them on the sofa. There was special food for his delicate tummy, his favourite treats which were the only way to bribe him to go for a walk apparently, and water bowls, his favourite blanket and stuffed toy and his leash. Frankie took the bowls into the kitchen and set them on the floor, pouring the food into one and fresh water from a bottle into the other.
"Make sure you put the food and treats in a cupboard so he doesn't jump up and steal them." She advised.
Juice shot a glance at the chubby dog, who was shuffling towards its bed lazily. He couldn't at all picture the animal leaping towards the counter, or moving faster than an arthritic tortoise at all for that matter. He listened carefully as Frankie explained the dog's medicines, when and how to administer his doses and how much. She had written it all down for him, thank God, and she stuck it to his refrigerator with a magnet shaped like a pair of tits.
"I really appreciate this." She said again, circling around the counter towards him.
He shrugged as if it was no big deal, although he had no idea how he was going to maintain his reputation in the neighbourhood if anyone saw him out walking an overweight basset hound later. It wasn't really an impressive breed to be seen with.
She coiled her arms around his neck and pressed her warm body against his. Although her mouth was teasing against his, Juice found he couldn't relax knowing Elvis was snoring in his newly situated bed a few feet away. Sensing his divided attention, she drew away.
"Are you okay?"
He stammered awkwardly, trying to explain that the dog was putting him off. He had expected her to laugh at him and tell him he was being ridiculous, the dog had probably been there when he'd been in her bed that first night after all, but she tilted her head and smiled instead.
"You're adorable, you know that?"
He opened his mouth to argue, but she was walking away. She led him into his bedroom and he hurriedly kicked the door shut in case the dog decided to follow. She took his hand and tugged him towards his bed. Thank fuck he'd changed the sheets earlier. She turned him to face her, and then she gave him a shove hard enough to send him sprawling back onto the bed in surprise. Before he could say anything, her mouth was on his again. She straddled him, pressing her firm breasts against his chest. He stroked her back through the thin vest top, dropping his hands lower to squeeze her butt in his palms.
"Mmmm… I have to catch my flight." She murmured breathlessly against him, even as her hips started to rock slightly against his.
Juice couldn't even reply, he was rapidly swelling beneath the curves of her butt as he peppered kisses onto her bare collarbones. He massaged her cheeks in time with his probing tongue as he traced it over the swell of her breasts above the collar of her vest. She put her hands on his shoulders and pushed, forcing him onto his back on the mattress.
"I really do need to go." She sighed and Juice was ready to cry. He was never going to catch a break.
"Still…" She looked thoughtful for a moment, before a wicked look flashed across her face and he felt his dick throb hungrily at the sight.
She leaned over him, tugging his lower lip between her teeth as her hips began to gyrate. He grunted as she brushed against him through the denim of his jeans. He gripped her hips, adjusting her angle slightly until she hit that magic spot that made him hiss in pleasure. He stared at her as she hovered over him, her cheeks pink and her mouth curved in a dangerous smile. He ran his hands up her sides, cupping her breasts and squeezing. She shivered as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples through the material of her vest and bra, the pace of her hips picking up slightly. He desperately wanted to touch her, but he knew she wouldn't want that. Not yet. He was panting harder, the plush swell of her butt grinding against his swollen cock working it's magic. He was taken by surprise as he came, completely absorbed in watching the fluid movements of her body above his, imagining her naked and bouncing. He grunted, his grip on her breasts tightening momentarily as his body shook beneath hers.
She sat back on his thighs as he caught his breath, peering down at him smugly. She leaned over and kissed him again, sliding her tongue against his languidly, before climbing down from the bed. He watched as she straightened her clothes and tidied her hair, instantly looking prettily professional again. He knew she was aroused, he could see her nipples clearly and the rosy flush on the tops of her breasts.
"I can-"
She shook her head before he could make the offer, that wicked smile on her lips again.
"I don't have time." She sighed, looking at the watch on her slender wrist for emphasis.
She moved towards the bed again, her hips swinging enticingly.
"Next time." She promised, brushing a last kiss against his mouth and stroking her fingertip down the length of his chest.
He heard her saying goodbye to Elvis through the now open door, and he knew he should go and see her out, but the broad stain on the crotch of his jeans was holding him hostage.
"Come on, dude." Juice cajoled, holding out the piece of cheese hiding the dog's meds.
Elvis lifted one eyelid, gave him a long insolent look, and closed it again. Juice forced himself to count to ten silently. The stupid dog was almost an hour overdue for his dose but he really didn't see how he was going to convince it to swallow the meds.
He looked longingly at his phone on the coffee table. Frankie had messaged him just before she boarded her flight, a series of raunchy emojis that painted a clear picture and then a regular message letting him know she'd be out of contact for a couple of hours. He wanted to text her for advice but he didn't want to let her down at the first damn hurdle. She'd only been gone for two hours for fuck's sake.
"Please?" He tried, wiggling the cheese under the dog's uninterested nose.
He dropped the cheese and scrubbed his hands over his head in frustration. He wasn't going to be a failure at this, no matter what. He sat down on the floor beside the dog.
"Alright listen." Elvis cocked an eye towards him. "You eat this, I'll give you a treat and… I'll order a pizza to share."
The dog stared at him, then huffed a martyred sigh and hoovered up the cheese. Juice whooped, petting Elvis gratefully behind the ears. I can't believe I just had to negotiate with a dog, he sighed in embarrassment, grabbing his phone to call for the pizza.
He was sprawled on the sofa watching TV, making his way through his half of the pizza when Frankie rang again. He wiped his greasy fingers on his shirt before he answered, glancing guiltily over at Elvis, who had devoured his slices in seconds and was now snoring peacefully on his back. The list of instructions had explicitly said he was only to eat the food she'd brought due to his diet.
"How are my favourite boys?"
He grinned happily.
"Hanging out."
She laughed and he felt the familiar tingle all over his body at the sound. There was a lot of background noise, she must have called him as soon as she'd got through security.
"Behaving, I hope?" She teased and he shot another guilty look at the sleeping dog.
"Always."
"You'll be the best of friends in no time."
Juice doubted that, but if she loved the fat dog, then he would do his best to like him for her.
"We're just waiting for the car to pick us up."
Juice felt jealousy jabbing at his guts, churning the barely digested pizza uneasily.
"We?"
"Nathaniel and I." She replied, sounding amused at the tone of his voice.
"Nathaniel?" Juice snorted to hide his jealousy.
"Don't be cruel." She chided warningly. "I'm assisting on a project with his team, we're here to present to the board of his company."
Juice couldn't care less what the douchebag was doing in her vicinity, as long as he kept his hands and eyes and every other possible appendage to his damn self.
"The car is late but we'll hopefully be at the hotel in an hour."
"The hotel?" Juice repeated suspiciously. "Separate rooms though, right?"
She gave her breathy laugh.
"Are you jealous, biker-boy?"
"Yes." He said immediately, without thinking about it.
"Good." She purred, and he could practically see that wicked smirk on her face.
"You're glad I'm jealous?" He asked sulkily.
"I'm glad you're thinking about me." He refrained from pointing out that she was all he'd thought about from the night he'd met her. "Don't worry, separate suites. All above board."
He grunted, still a little sulky at the thought.
"Why don't I call you after we've been for dinner."
"You're going to dinner together?"
The ember of jealousy was now a full on bonfire.
"A business dinner, yes."
He pouted. They had never actually clarified what was going on between them, she was well within her rights to sleep with anyone she wanted to, and so was he. The problem was he didn't want to. And he didn't want her to either. Was he supposed to ask her to be his girlfriend? The very thought made him squirm.
"Juice." Her authoritative tone was back, the one that made him leap to attention in every sense of the word. "Mere hours ago I was sitting on top of you on your bed. Do you think I would go from that to a date with another man?"
Juice shook his head silently.
"Good." She said as if she could actually see him. "The car's here. I'll ring you when I get to the hotel tonight."
As they said goodbye and rang off, he eyed Elvis warily. It was time for his last walk of the day and since he'd had to bribe the surprisingly intelligent dog with food just to get him to swallow the meds, he was not looking forward to trying to convince him to agree to exercise.