We pulled into an old parking lot surrounded by trees. A small playground was in the distance, and children's playing screams echoed around us. The dry air made breathing hard, "Jax, where are we?" Veila asked as she swung her leg over the bike seat.

He took her hand as she wobbled and helped her stand, "We're going to one of my favorite places. I used to come here a lot when I was younger."

Feeling excited, she held his hand tightly as he led her down a worn hiking path surrounded by overgrown plants. It was beautiful.

A thoughtful idea, too. A special place that he loved to go, filled with memories of his childhood.

Where the fuck was the condescending Jax that she had met when she moved here? She wanted to snort and ask him that, but this was the first time he was being sweet and not a complete ass to her, and she didn't want to ruin it.

They walked further and further away from where they had parked. If it weren't for the occasional hiker walking back, she would have thought he was taking her to her grave.

Hell, he might still be taking her to her grave.

Her imagination wandered. Thinking of a shallow grave hidden by dead leaves in the middle of the forest.

Not the way she wanted to go, but it would serve her right for all the fucked up shit she's done in her life. After nearly twenty minutes of being left with her thoughts, she huffed and puffed with a stitch in her side while he looked right as rain.

Damn him for looking hot while she was sure she looked like she just ran from New York.

Her huffing and puffing was ringing loud and clear around them. He even had the audacity to smile at her, "Just a little further. I promise."

"This better be good, Jax. I don't exercise for just anyone."

Or ever really, but he didn't need to know that.

He rolled his eyes, and before she could retort, he said, "I'm honored. Now close your eyes."

Following directions was not something she usually did, but being a good girl, she did as she was told and felt his hand cover her eyes for good measure. His palm was rough, and he guided her to their special location. She couldn't help but imagine his hands in other places, like around her throat or rubbing her clit.

He turned her a little before resting his head on her shoulder, "Open."

In front of her was a massive field on the edge of a drop-off. Wilderness surrounded them with beautiful shades of greens, blues, and yellows. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

"Thank you," It was all she could muster. It was the most thoughtful thing someone had done for her in a long time, minus the painful hike, but she would forgive him for a view like this.

He placed his hands on her hips and pushed her closer to the drop-off before pulling her down into the grass beside him, "I used to come here all the time when my dad was gone. Ma has a habit of being..."

She laughed, "Overwhelming? Overpowering or demanding?"

A slanted grin overtook his face, "Yeah, you're right, but what can I do? She's my mom."

Veila laughed. He was right. It was what moms did. They were overwhelming and overbearing sometimes, and if they did their jobs right, it came with a shit ton of love and care.

"You're right, but this isn't about my mom," he waved his hand as if to wave away the topic, "this isn't about my mom," he took her hand, "I want to know why I can't stop thinking about you."

"I'm sure it's just because I'm crazy," she said. She didn't know why, and she didn't know what to tell him. As much as they acted like her pussy was golden, it wasn't.

She wasn't even that experienced with it.

"I think it's because you're so much like us. I like that you're not gonna freak out when we come home covered in blood or with a few extra bodies."

"As long as it's not your blood," she paused, "but if it is, I can do some half-decent stitches," she mimed, pulling the skin together and sewing it up, "Just don't ask Sasha or Gregori. They'll show you some nasty scars."

That made him laugh. The sound was mesmerizing. Deep and sensual. It wasn't a lot, but Jax had given her a piece of himself.

His blue eyes bore into hers, and she almost forgot how to breathe. His gaze was so intense.

"Were you always into…"

"...murder?" She tried to fill in.

"No, not that, but…" he looked at her pleadingly, "I don't know what to call it. That stuff you were doing with Happy when we found you having sex."

"Oh, that… It's called CNC," she told him, blushing.

He didn't look away. He looked even more curious, "What is it? Dumb it down for me."

"Fuck, Jax," Veila looked away and took a deep breath. She hadn't felt so awkward in years, "It's rape play, but it's not. We talked about everything before we did it. I told him how to do it, and we had a safe word just in case."

"A safe word?"

"Yeah, it was red. If he ever did something I didn't like, I would say it, and he would stop."

"What if he didn't stop?"

Veila laughed softly, "He would end up under the ground. I explained that, and I kept my protection with me."

"Okay…" he looked at her for a long moment in silence like he was trying to work things out in his mind, "...why do you like it?"

This is what she hated most. When they asked her why, she could just say, "Because I do." but that wouldn't cut it, and she knew it, "It gives me control again."

Jax took her hands and looked her in the eyes, "Control?"

She nodded, an uncomfortable feeling filling her from the pit of her stomach like a bolder. The topic was bound to come up eventually, but she was never excited to talk about it.

His voice was rough now and filled with something she didn't understand, "Can you tell me?"

Her throat was tight, "It happened a long time ago..."

Jax pulled her onto his lap and squeezed her, "Take your time."

"When I was fifteen, a man at my father's company came to talk business. At first, he was nice and seemed friendly."

She took a deep breath, "He came over a lot. He would always bring me presents and tell me jokes when they were there. I thought he was wonderful, so when he came over one night, and no one was home, I let him in…"

The wind howled through the trees.

"I thought we would play games while we waited. I guess he played a game, but I didn't want to play it."

His fingertips dug into her sides. She knew they would leave bruises, but the pain spurred her on, "He was kind at first, but then he started to touch me," Her throat was tighter now like it was trying to close up on her, "I screamed at him to stop. I begged him… I- I did…"

He gripped her tightly and rocked her, "Stop… I can't…"

Veila nodded as she stared into the sky, not seeing anything. It was a hard story to listen to. Her parents wouldn't let her finish telling them after it happened. They forced her to stop.

Only Sasha had ever let her cry about it…

"When you do that shit with Happy, it makes you feel better?"

"Yeah. I always know what's gonna happen…"

"Okay, one more. Is he dead?"

"Yes," she whispered, "I watched as Sasha slit his throat."

He nodded slowly, "That's all I needed to know."

They sat silently for a long time, and he held her before his phone rang. "Hey, ma. What do you need?"

Jax's arms tightened around her as he spoke, and she couldn't help but relax.

"Does it need to be now?" he listened before nodding, "Alright, I'll see you soon."

"You have to go?"

"Yeah. Ma needs me on a run for the shop."

He stood up and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They walked in silence back the way they came, and even though she couldn't see it, she could feel the connection growing between them.

"You know, I was thinking that you might have been taking me to my grave up here…"

Jax laughed, "No way, that's Happy's job."

Veila giggled, "Ohh, I get it. You make him do all the dirty work."

They were approaching his bike now, as Jax slid his hand down to cup her ass, "Not all the dirty work," he spun her to face him, "Personally, I prefer to get face to face with my work," he told her as his tongue licked across his bottom lip.

"Jax, I will keep you buried between my thighs all night if you let me."

"Promises promises," he whispered against her lips before he left her high and dry to sit on his bike.

He squeezed her hand when she was seated behind him, "Wait for me at the shop? I wanna do one more thing with you tonight."

Floored, she nodded, "Sure, I can wait around."

He took off, turning down a different route than they had taken there. She didn't care because he kept a hand on hers while driving, and she just wanted to be wrapped around him a little longer.

Unfortunately, they couldn't avoid the garage all night; it was packed when they pulled in. Bikes lined the edge of the lot, and cars filled the lifts. Gemma popped out from the office and gave Jax a peck on the cheek and a stack of papers, "Car is on Elm Drive. Hurry back, I want it taken care of before we close."

He nodded and turned to Veila before leaving, "Wait around inside. I'm sure one of the girls can get you a drink, and I think Ope is around here somewhere."

"If he is, I'll find him," Veila gave him a wink and watched him walk off.

His ass is damn fine.

"He got it from me."

Veila blushed and looked at Gemma, "What?"

Gemma laughed and tugged her toward the office, "His ass, he gets it from me."

The boys smiled and waved as they entered. Gemma sat her at the bar, "Where'd he take you? The cliff?"

Veila nodded, her heart dropping, "Yeah, we hiked up there and talked for a while."

"He takes all the girls up there. Has since he was fifteen," Gemma told her, laughing like it was something funny.

"Ahh," Veila said softly, her heart cracking, "It is beautiful up there."

Maybe Jax wasn't so thoughtful after all.

Gemma nodded, "Yeah, it is. Relax a little. All the girls he brings up there have lasted a few years. Don't worry."

A few years. Was Gemma trying to put her in her place?

Fuck, now she felt like an idiot for telling him her secret. For being vulnerable with him and for believing his lie.

Fuck you, Jax Teller.