You And Me And Our Boys

by SkaterSince2004

JAX & TARA AU LOVE STORY (focus on them & not the club)! Will Tara make a full recovery? Will they be able to rebuild their relationship again? Or will secrets, lies, and misconceptions keep them apart? ***Spoilers for the S6 Finale, AU after that*** Warning: Slow Burn. Rated M/R for strong language/violence/adult themes/smut. Please review.

59. Chapter 59

Warning: Smut!

X

One month later, the day before the wedding …

Tara squeezes Jax's hand and leans her head against his shoulder as they walk side by side while watching Abel and Thomas running ahead of them along the sandy beach.

The boys drag the sticks they've found through the sand, leaving a trail of squiggly lines and footprints behind them, along with the echoes of their infectious giggles and laughter, both of which bring repeated smiles to their parents' faces.

"They don't have a care in the world." Tara muses wistfully about the sight in front of them.

"As it should be," Jax replies, his smile growing even wider watching the boys chasing each other around now, playing so happily.

"They needed this," she adds, smiling too, even though a heavy sigh escapes her while voicing the thought out loud.

"We all needed this," he adds in reply, then juts his chin toward a rock formation a little ways ahead, before pulling her along with him. He swipes his hand over the rocks for just a moment, cleaning off some sand and other debris, before he takes a seat and pulls Tara to sit between his legs in front of him, hugging her from behind, and tugging her back against his front, before he links his fingers in front of her stomach.

"Yeah, we did." She easily agrees. Even though she's well aware that neither of them could really afford to take any more time off of work, not with the upcoming move and her wanting to take some time off when the baby comes too. But the truth is they did need this, they needed a few carefree hours to spend just as a family before all the wedding craziness would begin, starting with the rehearsal later that afternoon.

Feeling his arms securely wrapped around her, she relaxed more into him, cherishing this blissful moment of peace and contentment they'd barely had over the last month.

That nothing ever goes as planned, should've been a life lesson Jax and she had been all too familiar with by now, yet both had still been hopeful nonetheless that for once in their lives the old saying wouldn't hold true, but of course, they had no such luck.

After deciding to go through with Jax's idea to have the wedding in just four weeks' time, and meticulously planning out every little detail they could think of with the help of the wedding coordinator Mrs. Stroud, they'd quickly come to realize that there were still quite a few things that needed to be done by them personally. And with the time crunch they were under, those things had to be done very quickly.

Things, like, agreeing on a guest list. Get the invites printed and mailed or even emailed, only to then basically have to harass people for an RSVP, because everything was happening on such short notice.

Also, the wedding dress. Deciding on an outfit for the boys. And what is Jax going to wear? Bridesmaids or no bridesmaids? Band or DJ? What song should they dance to? Would they get time off to go on a honeymoon? Who'd watch the boys for them? … Even though they thought they had it all handled, the list seemed never-ending and ever-growing somehow.

Between having to deal with all of the wedding preparations, regular life had carried on without missing a beat, and so they still had work, taking care of their boys, only to then spend every free moment they could find continuing to pack up the apartment and get ready for their upcoming move too.

In the midst of it all, the original projected closing date first got pushed back just a few days, which didn't seem like that big of a deal. On the new date though, they had waited on pins and needles to get a call or text from their realtor, who in turn was waiting to hear from the seller and hear back from the bank, that the deal was done and they'd officially be cleared to close on the house, but it never came.

So naturally, it had unsettled them when after a lengthy back and forth between the realtors, the seller, and the bank, the closing date on the house got pushed back by a couple of weeks, because the seller ended up needing more time to move out after all, plus the bank suddenly needed more paperwork from them as well. As it turns out, transferring large sums of money from your saving to your checking account to then write several checks for your upcoming wedding is pretty much a big fucking no-no when you're trying to get the last details of your mortgage ironed out.
It was certainly a lesson learned, but looking back now, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise too. Sure, they have had to talk to Tara's landlord to extend their lease for another month, but that also meant they could now wait until after the wedding to get the move and anything that had to do with it sorted out. It was at least one issue that they could put on the back burner for just a little bit longer, and yet, here she was, worrying about all the things they'd had to worry about.

Jax glances down at her, noticing that she seems lost in her thoughts again like she had been all morning on the drive out here. And he too can't help but get lost in his thoughts, thinking of the irony that they'd barely had an uninterrupted minute of quality time with each other since they got back home that Valentine's Day weekend when he'd proposed to have a proper do-over of their wedding.

"What's on your mind, Babe?" he asks, unable to keep his curiosity at bay any longer.

She glances back at him over her shoulder for a second, caught off guard by his unexpected question, but not wanting to ruin the moment by rehashing all the stress they've dealt with, she says the next thing that's been on her mind. "I was thinking what a beautiful backdrop this beach would be for our wedding pictures."

"We can do that." He agrees without giving it much thought, but is taking another look around this stretch of beach.

But Tara glances back the other way, at the rocky and somewhat steep path they had to take to get down to this beautiful spot, and a little laugh escapes her before she shakes her head no and says, "Yeah, no, I don't think we can, 'cause I'll be in a wedding dress and heels."

Jax follows her gaze, but still answers, without a shred of doubt in his voice "If you want pictures down here, I'll make it happen." And it has Tara shooting him a disbelieving look, but before she can voice that disbelief, he quickly adds with a shrug of his shoulders, like it's nothing, "I'll just carry you down and back up. Won't be a problem."

There's no point in arguing how he might regret making that offer when he actually has to carry her up and down that rocky hill, so she concedes with a small smile for now. "Okay, maybe we can." Her eyes drift up, noting the white cloud-filled sky, then adds. "If it doesn't rain." There is a forty percent chance of rain in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon, and it sucked to know these beautiful outdoor locations she's already set her heart and mind on might not be a possibility after all.

"We'll deal with that when the time comes." He tries to placate her, nuzzling his nose against her cheek before pressing his lips to her temple in a gentle kiss. "If it rains, we can just take some indoor pics, there's plenty of nice places around … or we'll go straight to the reception, and skip out later when the rain stops. It'll work out. I'm sure we'll get some nice shots out here."

She loves that he seems so sure and confident about it like their wishful thinking can possibly have any real influence on tomorrow's weather. And obviously, she knows that there really is no sense in trying to worry about something neither of them can change, but that thought then makes her wonder if she's being ridiculous about what she does have control over and could change. "Do you think I'm being stupid?"

"What?" He asks in confusion in the split-second she takes a quick breath.

But before he can say anything else, she carries on, "I mean, what if the sun's out before, but we miss the chance of nice outdoor pictures just because I don't want you to see me in my dress before the ceremony. Is that stupid?"

"No, Babe, of course not," He shakes his head, his eyes soft, "The Groom not seeing the bride in the dress before the wedding, it's a thing, I get that!" Then cups her chin, turning her face so she'll meet his gaze again. "Stop worrying about it."

"Yeah, okay." She nods gratefully back at him, and feeling reassured she takes and releases a slow breath to rid herself of some of the residual stress she's been feeling.

"You know what is fuckin' stupid though?" Jax suddenly asks, sounding incredulous as he shakes his head to himself.

At his words, Tara instantly turns away and bites her lip to keep herself from laughing out loud because she already knows exactly what he's about to say and complain about.

"Sleeping in separate hotel rooms!" He answers his own question without missing a beat, the hint of outrage over tonight's sleeping arrangements clear in his voice. "We're already married. I mean, we've been married for two years, so there's really no reason to spend tonight apart at this point."

"I hear you, baby," She kinda agrees just to placate him, and just like she's managed not to laugh at his outrage, she suppresses the mischievous grin that's threatening to appear and levels her voice to sound somewhat serious when she adds. "But it's tradition, and it's supposed to be good luck."

"Can't we make our own luck?" He sweeps her hair off of her shoulder, tucking the collar of her jacket away, and nuzzles his face into the crook of her neck again, pressing a few kisses there before he exhales the words against the shell of her ear, sounding heady when he tightens his arms back around her to pull her closer against him and says, "It's just been too long, Babe."

"Jax …" She shivers and squirms in his strong arms. She can feel instant heat traveling to her core caused by his lips against her neck and his words in her ear, because it's true. It feels like forever since they've had time to really enjoy each other and make love, instead of just a few quickies in the shower they've had to be content with. But somehow she stands her ground just the same. "It's just one more night, and … and let's be honest, we need all the good luck we can get."

He loosens his grip on her and pulls back, releasing a groan when he huffs out a frustrated, "I know!" Because Christ, if that isn't the truth. It feels like their entire relationship and marriage has been them trying to overcome one obstacle after another, -with the Club, with Gemma, and at times even with each other. So Tara isn't wrong for wanting to have a bit of luck on their side for the future they're both envisioning now.

Still though, knowing that and agreeing with that, doesn't just diminish the need he feels for her. Coming together at the end of a hard day isn't just about wanting the physical release, it is like a balm they both need to soothe whatever was stressing them out, as much as it was to heal the remaining cracks their tumultuous past has left behind. And he misses that contentment, that healing if you wanna call it that, he gets from being with her like that. He misses her lips on his lips, her bare skin against his bare skin … misses burying himself in her, misses having her all to himself for more than just a few short minutes in the shower!

Deep down Jax knows it's mostly his fault that their lives have been turned upside down over the last four weeks since it was his bright idea not to wait another year to renew their vows as Tara had suggested. And in turn, it's his fault that their routines with the kids have suffered too, which has led to the boys acting out, and presenting bedtime struggles they've never had to deal with until now. But it is certainly something they needed to remedy when they got back home after their honeymoon, even if it meant he'd have to be the bad guy that banished their young sons again from their marital bed.

As if she could read his mind, Tara suddenly explains. "When it was just the boys and me, I'd often let them sleep in my bed, especially if I had a nightmare." She twists around in his arms, so she can meet his eyes when she adds, "Seems kind of cruel to tell them they can't sleep with us now that they're the ones having a hard time."

"I know, Babe." He nods his agreement, remembering her nightmares all too vividly and also how she'd dealt with them before he showed up at her door and moved in with them. Which is a big part of the reason why he'd let Abel and Thomas sleep in between this last month. And the other part had been that Tara and he had simply been feeling too exhausted to keep trying to convince the boys to return and stay in their own beds.

But now with the stress of the wedding almost behind them, their lives need to go back to normal. And so he quickly carries on with what he needs to get off of his chest, "Look, I love our boys … so much, and I know that everything's been hard on them too, but …" he sighs as his eyes fall on Abel and Thomas laughing and still entertaining each other along the beach, shaking his head to himself for even having to say this out loud, "but the only time we truly get any time to ourselves is when they're asleep. In their own beds! I know this makes me sound like some fucking asshole like it's all just about sex … but for fucks sake, you realize it's been almost four damn weeks since we've spent a night alone in our bed?"

At that, Tara can't help the little smirk that stretches over her face, and she's honestly tempted to make some smartass remark like 'Welcome to Fatherhood, Teller'. But because of the seriousness she can so clearly make out in Jax's voice, she quickly tries to school her features before she whips her head around to look up at him yet again, trying to think of what to say and how to say it, because this part of raising kids is still new to him since he'd never been around when they fought their bedtime routine in the past. "I think it's just that we've both been so busy with everything, and on top of that we've pretty much packed up their whole room, already took their beds apart too, and it's just … everything … I think it all just has them feeling out of sorts, you know?"

"I know, which is why I've let it slide. And I actually thought they'd love just having their mattresses on the floor and fewer toys to clean up. But I swear, Babe, I'll put their damn beds back together if that's what it takes to get them out of ours." He pauses then, his eyes roaming along with their giggling boys, keeping a keen eye on them to ensure they're not wandering off too far or getting too close to where the waves are lapping against the shore, before he finally adds, "I guess I just need to know that when we get back home in a couple days, that we're on the same page and will try to get them to sleep in their own beds again."

"Of course, we are, Jax." She can easily agree with that because she has been missing their alone time too, and could also do without a toddler kicking her in the ribs or kidneys in the middle of the night. Their bed just wasn't big enough for the four of them, and the lack of deep and restful sleep has certainly added to their stress lately too.

His eyes are on their sons still before they land back on her, and he surprises her when he wonders out loud, "Promise?"

She twists her whole body toward him, raising one of her hands to his chin before she reassures him solemnly, "I promise, baby," and leans in to kiss him.

Just then, Jax's cell phone goes off, pinging and vibrating in his pocket against his thigh, letting them know he got a text message, and so a moment later he pulls away from the kiss to check it.

Tara watches the boys before she glances back at him over her shoulder, trying to study his face as he's still looking at the screen. And she can't help but notice the small hint of concern that's crossing his features, the vertical wrinkles that etch deep between his furrowed eyebrows as he reads over the text he just got.

Curiously, Tara tries to peek at the phone to see what's going on, but he quickly pulls it away and clicks the screen off too, shaking his head and smiling back at her. "It's nothing you need to worry about," he says, and with it implying that it's another text about some last-minute wedding preparation, which he'd declared a couple of nights ago he'd handle all on his own now, "I told you, … I got this."

"Yeah, I know you said that … but we're here now, so if you need me, I can help too." She quickly interjects. She's not worried that he can't handle it, but she's just feeling guilty to have Jax deal with these last-minute issues all on his own when she's literally off work now and able to help again too.

"I got it all under control, Babe," he replies and presses a quick kiss against the back of her head before climbing out from behind her to step a few feet away and make the necessary phone call. He's scrolling through his phone, she assumes searching for the right number, but glances over at her just to say, "Turns out, if this mechanic gig doesn't work out, I could be a goddamn wedding planner."

"It would never work." She smiles, yet answers rather dryly without even having to think about it, already shaking her head, before she adds with a hint of humor to her voice, "You'd be out of business in no time, Teller."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" He asks while looking over at her in surprise, already raising the phone up to his ear, waiting for an answer.

"Because the bride-to-be would take one look at you and would call the wedding off." She teases him, a big smile on her face now.

At that, Jax laughs out loud and smiles wide before he blows her a quick kiss as he turns away from her to tend to the phone call instead.

X

Later that day …

The rehearsal of the ceremony had gone by without a hitch. And afterward, instead of having a traditional rehearsal dinner, Jax, Tara, and their kids, along with Mrs. Ellie and her daughter, met up with their small wedding party and their spouses for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants in town. Nothing formal, but after all the stress they'd been under, it had been nice to just have some light conversations while enjoying their meals with some friends.

Neither Jax nor Tara wanted to have a bachelor or bachelorette party, and much to the dismay of some of their friends had respectively shut that idea down pretty quickly. One reason had been the stress and time restraint they'd been under with the wedding being just around the corner, but the more obvious reason had been that they'd already been married for nearly two years, so it just wasn't something that either of them had any desire for at this point.

Nevertheless, at the insistent urging of several friends, they got talked into having a little joint celebration instead. Again, nothing fancy, nothing formal, just a little dancing, drinking, possibly gambling, and just shooting the shit among friends the night before the wedding.

So as previously arranged, not long after dinner Tara and Jax left their boys in the trusted care of Mrs. Ellie and her daughter Allison for the rest of the evening.

The couple then split ways, with Tara's friends whisking her away, back to her hotel room, even inviting Chibs' date Althea to tag along, so they could all get ready together, while Jax waited in the hotel lobby to link up with all the guys. From there the guys then headed over to one of the local bars in town where their friends had made plans to hang out tonight.

So now that Jax is standing in said bar, he isn't the least bit surprised that the place their friends have picked for this little pre-wedding get-together seems to be getting busier with every passing minute considering it was a Friday night and, because from what he could tell, there weren't too many places to dance, get a drink, and shoot pool at in this town or any of the nearby towns for that matter. But he honestly didn't care, he was just thankful that none of this required any planning from Tara or him, and that their friends had taken it upon themselves to handle it all instead.

He and the guys had just gotten here about twenty minutes ago, taking two Ubers Jason had arranged so that everyone could drink as much as they wanted to, if they wanted to.

But since Tara obviously wouldn't be drinking, Jax had no intentions of getting wasted tonight either. Besides, having to nurse a hangover on his wedding day didn't sound appealing in the least, especially after all the money, trouble, and length he went to, to make this wedding special for her and to pull it all off in such a short amount of time.

Impatiently he checks the time on his phone once more because Tara and the girls still aren't here. They were running late getting ready and therefore decided to come separately. So for now it's just Jason, Greg, Bobby, Happy, and Chibs here with him. His new world clashing with his old.

And then that thought has him momentarily wondering again how Tara's doing. Is she stressing about her old and new world clashing? Wondering how Tara's high school friend Rayna, her doctor friend Christy, Lyla the porn star turned producer, Claire the accountant and former Old Lady, and Althea the sheriff hit it off back at the hotel brings a sheepish smile to his face. To be a fly on the wall for those introductions.

Jax takes a small sip from the Miller Lite Jason had handed him right after they got here as he lazily scans and studies the scenes surrounding him, all the while trying his best to ignore the pretty brunette by the bar that's been giving him the eye since he walked in.

The bar itself seems to be lined with people either already on a date or looking to hook up, sipping their drinks and blatantly flirting over the loud music.

The dance floor is actually all the way down at the other end of the place, with a small-ish, elevated stage in the corner where a DJ is set up, supplying the beats to the dancing crowd below him.

And here, right across from the bar countless bar-height tables and chairs were scattered, with two dart boards on the wall to one side, and along the other wall was a row of pool tables, most of which were already occupied too.

As soon as a table becomes available, Greg takes the initiative and starts to rack the balls for a game of pool, looking around the group of them to see who is up for it, and Happy quickly agrees.

Jax can't help but feel a bit strange watching his new friends mixing with his old ones, but so far so good. Everyone seems to be getting along, and he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't secretly glad that Tig couldn't make it, because if anyone would clash with Tara and his new life and friends, it would undoubtedly be Tiggy and his off-color jokes after he had one too many drinks.

But this isn't so bad, Jax thinks to himself as he lazily raises a cigarette to his lips, cupping the flame for no reason other than old habit as he lights it and takes his first drag.

He's listening in on them ribbing one another, Greg and Hap talking shit about who's the better pool player, and everyone else joining in on their banter too. It has him laughing along, feeling relieved at their instant comradery and surprised to realize that he's actually enjoying himself, even though there's still a small part of him who would much rather be spending the evening with Tara someplace alone.

The game at the table right beside them ends a moment later, the guys that had been playing there are walking away, and so Chibs commandeers it before someone else can and starts to rack that one as well, challenging Jason to a game of pool this time.

Bobby comes to stand at the bar-height table beside Jax, wordlessly clinking his beer bottle against Jax's before they both raise them to their lips to take a swig.

Jax can instantly see it in the look Bobby gives him, and can sense the sudden tension in the air that tells him the older man has something on his mind that he wants to talk to him about, and he's got a pretty good idea of what it's about too.

He's been avoiding having to deal with anything that has to do with Gemma. Truth be told, he'd rather keep it that way and stay in the dark, not wanting to know what's happening with her, or what the guys have heard through the Stockton grapevine.

He doesn't give a damn about who, or if anyone, is looking after her home, her belongings, handling her bills, her affairs, or if anyone may even bother to put some cash in her commissary. Although deep down he suspects Wayne's all over all that like flies on shit, trying to smother his guilty conscience about the part he played to get Gemma to spill her guts and outright confess.

He also doesn't care who's now handling the things she used to take care of around T-M or the Clubhouse either. Chibs and Bobby bought him out, so T-M ain't his problem anymore. And he definitely doesn't wanna hear if or how she's managed to score herself some kind of protection inside either. What Gemma is concerned, the less he knows the better, and the old saying holds true, ignorance is bliss!

A part of him knows he is treading on thin ice though because his mother has more than enough knowledge of Club business to put him and most of SAMCRO away for life. Didn't matter that he's left this life of crime and Charming behind, her potential testimony of his past crimes could still be enough to send him back to the slammer if she ever decided to rat for more cushy accommodations.

And truth be told, after first hearing of the measly five years she's gotten, he'd actually wondered -if only for a ludicrous couple of minutes- if the matriarch might've made a deal of her own and turned rat after all.

But after a long and rather heated talk with Lowen, Jax knows now that that's not the case, and also knows enough to have begrudgingly come to terms with Gemma's outrageously lenient five-year deal.

He knows now that if it had been first-degree murder, meaning if it had been premeditated; Gemma could've gotten a minimum sentence of twenty years to life and a maximum of life without parole. However, for second-degree murder, like a spur-of-the-moment type of situation, -which it was- she could've gotten fifteen years at a minimum and a maximum of twenty-five to life.

But despite the viciousness and brutality with which Gemma had attacked Tara, and all the suffering she, and not to forget Abel, Thomas, and him too, had been through because of his mother's actions, it wasn't murder because nobody died. Tara is still alive.

Not only that, but Tara has made a remarkable recovery and is actually thriving, having been cleared months ago by her doctors and therapists to return to the work she loves at full capacity and operate again.

Tara had survived, and therefore Gemma got away with a measly five-year sentence instead of a possible lifetime behind bars like he'd hoped she'd get.

Jax could swear, Gemma is like a feral cat with nine fucking lives to boot, and part of him knows he'll have to deal with her when the time comes. Whether that will be in three years should she be granted a parole hearing, or in five years when she's supposed to get released ... If she gets released! But at least for the time being, she is behind bars and not his fucking problem.

So in his mind, Jax is already preparing himself to shut Bobby down when he hears him clear his throat and can see him out of the corner of his eye shift his whole body and his attention Jax's way. But even if he had any desire to get involved in Gemma's shit, this isn't the time or place to do so, not with Jason and Greg here, and Tara and the girls showing up soon too.

"We'll have to talk about her one of these days, Jax," Bobby mumbles as if he too possesses the ability to read Jax's mind in return.

Their eyes meet now in the small space between them, holding each other's gaze, but before Bobby can get another word out Jax is beating him to it when he replies an exasperated, "I know," only to then quickly shake his head at him when he adds, "but not tonight, bro, and not tomorrow, or the rest of the week either. Whatever it is, it'll have to wait."

Bobby's lips twitch as if he's ready to argue, but he surprises Jax when he nods a moment later in agreement instead, "Yeah, alright. It can wait a week."

Jax thanks him in the form of a small grateful smile and raises his beer to him once more, and Bobby returns the gesture before he claps and then clasps Jax's shoulder in a sign of approval and agreement.

All worries are forgotten again, but they'd been so caught up with each other that neither of them saw the woman approach until she stepped right in front of Jax.

It's the brunette from the bar who has been throwing him flirtatious smiles and giving him fuck-me-eyes since the moment he got here. Fucking hell!

"Hey," she says while flashing a line of straight white teeth with her smile, and revealing way too much cleavage in her low-cut top to him, before her eyes awkwardly drift to Bobby for just a second as if she's unsure she wants to do this with him as an audience and undoubtedly hopes he'll take the hint and leave.

But Bobby of course does not take the hint and isn't budging an inch from his spot beside Jax. And as much as things have changed, some things clearly haven't, like not donning a Kutte apparently hasn't changed a damn thing about the attention Jax still so easily receives from the fairer sex. So instead of leaving, Bobby simply mutters "Some things never change" when he shoots the younger man a knowing look with mirth-filled eyes while trying to suppress the chuckle that's already bubbling up in his throat.

Jax shoots Bobby that same knowing look in return, one corner of his lip upturns for just a split second before it's gone again. He'd be lying if he said a part of him isn't flattered every time some hot chick comes on to him. Of course, it boosts his ego, but he'd be damned to let it show and encourage it. And just as he turns his attention back to the woman in front of him to figure out how to quickly dismiss her, she's already speaking up.

"I've been watching you from the bar since you got here," she begins, sounding flirty and overly confident that he'll be interested in her too, and she's pretty enough that in another life, he surely would've been. But not in this one, darlin'!

"Like what you see, huh?" He asks in a flat tone, his expression equally giving nothing away, but she still nods her head eagerly when she huffs a seductive "Yeah" and steps close enough to touch him now. But to her surprise, Jax steps back and juts his chin back in the direction of the bar when he adds with a scowl, "Go back and keep watching then." His eyes gleam uncharacteristically cold and his words are equally harsh in the delivery. But the last thing Jax needs right now is for Tara to walk in here and witness this chick throwing herself at him, so cold and harsh is his intent.

The shocked expression, -mouth agape, eyes wide- that crosses her face when his words register is priceless, and for a split second she glances down at her drink, but the glass is already empty and undoubtedly that's what's saving Jax from getting doused with it. She then shoots him one more scathing look and mutters "fuckin' asshole" under her breath as she quickly storms off to the sound of the guys whooping and hollering in amusement about the burn he just dished out.

And with her back turned to him, Jax allows the amused smirk he's been holding back to now stretch freely across his face before joining in on the laughter with the guys too.

"You know in all the years I've know ya', I've never seen you get a drink thrown in your face," Bobby recalls, still sounding amused when he glances back at the girl who's shooting all of them dirty looks from the bar now, before he adds, "But you keep this shit up, tonight might be the night."

Jax extinguishes his cigarette by grinding the stubby filter into the ashtray sitting on the table beside him before he lazily exhales the smoke from the last drag he just took, and smirks when he dares a quick untroubled glance at the pissed-off brunette somewhere at the bar behind them. Good riddance!

He knows he'll probably come off sounding like he's whipped, but fuck it, because he's finally reached a point in his life where he just doesn't give a shit anymore about keeping up appearances in front of the guys, and replies, "Yeah, well, I ain't taking the chance of Tara showing up and reading into shit all wrong, so if a drink in my face is the consequence, so fuckin' be it."

To his surprise though, Bobby doesn't tease him and instead just says, "I'd call that pretty good timing then," and then nods toward the entrance of the bar.

Following Bobby's gaze, Jax turns just in time to see the girls step inside, and then sees Tara already scanning the place for him too.

She throws him a smile as soon as she spots him, one he unabashedly returns in an instant as he's watching her and the rest of the girls make their way over to them.

"Hi," she says, leaning in for a quick peck on the lips, before she adds, "Sorry we're late."

Everyone's greeting everyone, exchanging pleasantries, and then there's a quick discussion back and forth between Christy and her fiance Jason, about why he didn't ask about the tables they'd apparently reserved for tonight when he and the guys got here.

But while they're still busy talking, Tara shrugs out of her knee-length coat and is draping it over the back of the chair when he gets his first look at what she's wearing. His carefree smile slips off his face and is replaced with what can only be described as a WTF expression, with his eyebrows raised so high, they look like they're about to disappear in his hairline. Because what the fuck is she wearing?

Tara's in a skin-tight white dress, strategically ruched to accentuate all of her delicious curves and then some, but with a hem so fucking short, it is barely hitting her mid-thigh.

There's no denying that she looks amazing, like the most tempting babe, but it's normally not something she'd wear, and it's damn sure not something he'd want her to wear around his friends … or anyone else for that matter.

Since Tara came back to Charming a full-fledged surgeon, she's been the kind of woman who acts reserved on the outside, dressing in a not-too-revealing kind of way, and Jax likes knowing he's the only one who's been privy to that other side of her. Knowing that behind closed doors, underneath that good girl exterior, there are curves for miles, and tiny lacy thongs, and her ripping off his clothes because she can't possibly wait for another second to fuck him. So this isn't like her, and he doesn't like it one bit.

But before he can voice those thoughts out loud, she's already looking up at him, raising her hand to his chest and leaning in closer as she mumbles under her breath, "I know!"

Now that she's up close, he greedily drinks in her appearance again. His eyes dart to the V-neckline of her dress that's showing off a whole lot of cleavage, and his fingers twitch when they take hold of the curve of her hips, drawing her even nearer against him, even though he's shaking his head at her in disbelief at the same time.

Having followed Jax's examining gaze, she adds in a whisper, "Trust me, this was not my idea." She glances back over her shoulder for a quick second, relieved that everyone's attention is still diverted elsewhere when she adds in another whisper, "I feel like I need to suck in my stomach 'cause I'm worried I'm showing. If I would've known they'd spring this scrap of a dress on me, I would've brought some Spanx or something."

Jax can feel her uneasiness coming off of her in waves, and in turn, it makes him feel like a piece of shit and has him instantly dialing back his own issues with her outfit. She's already here, and she's wearing this tiny thing she clearly wishes she wasn't wearing either. So what good is it gonna do if he starts piling his disapproval on top of it, too? What's done is done, and so he takes a deep breath, and remembers what she just said he then tries to take her mind off it with humor and a smirk when he asks, "Spanx? Sounds naughty."

And it works, momentarily at least, when Tara lets out a little laugh before she answers, shaking her head, "It's really not. It's the opposite of naughty." But then she follows up with a bit of worry in her voice when she asks him outright, "Do you think I'm showing?"

Jax glances down at her again, and now that he's not focusing on how the dress shows off the curves of her tits, hips, and ass, he's momentarily unsure if he should answer her honestly. Truth be told, it's still pretty easy for her to hide the subtle changes of her body in a pair of jeans paired with the right shirt or even scrubs, but tonight, in this dress, she is in fact showing a little bit.

Fighting the urge to run his hand over the tiniest of baby bumps, he swipes his hand down his bearded chin instead, and then sighs as he decides to go with the truth and tells her like it is, "Maybe a little."

"Shit," Tara hisses under her breath, already sucking in her stomach again, but before she can say anything else, both their attention is drawn back to their group of friends, noticing how everyone is already grabbing their jackets and drinks.

And then Christy's gaze meets hers when she explains again what Jax and she must've missed, which is to follow along with one of the waitresses, who's showing them the way to the tables they've reserved for the occasion.

Tara quickly grabs her jacket, folding it over her arm and holding it in front of her, while Jax grabs his stuff with one hand and drapes his other arm around her shoulder.

He gestures for everyone else to go ahead of them, trying to hold off the inevitable as long as possible of Hap or Bobby or whoever checking out Tara's barely concealed voluptuous ass, before they wordlessly follow behind the rest of the group.

But then Jax catches Tara examining herself again, and his thoughts go back to her worries instead of his own. He knows for a fact that she's been wondering how she's going to explain away that she isn't drinking anything tonight, and won't be drinking at their wedding tomorrow either. That, combined with her worrying about her little baby bump, got him thinking that maybe it was time to share the news after all.

They follow behind their friends, maneuvering their way around this busy place, as he glances down at her beside him and leans in closer when he whispers, "Maybe it's time to share the news."

As expected, she shoots him a quick look that tells him she knows instantly what he means, and after a second she glances up at him again, whispering, "You think so?"

Jason and Christy already know, and Tara told Claire, so even though Greg hadn't brought it up at work yet, he probably knows too, and Jax has no doubt that the rest of their friends will also be happy for them like everyone else has been.

But he knows Tara's still worried about how SAMCRO will react to the news about the latest Teller, because it undoubtedly brings back memories of when everyone thought she was pregnant the last time around, and all that went down with that. Jax isn't worried in the least though, knowing they'd already moved past all that shit the night Tara saved Bobby's life at the cabin when she dug that bullet out of him.

Besides, they can't hide it too much longer anyway, and it would just make tonight a lot more relaxed for her if she didn't have to keep declining drink offers and having to keep dodging questions about why she's only sipping Shirley Temples or other virgin cocktails. So Jax makes his case, reminding her of her initial wish to wait to tell people until she was further along, "You wanted to wait 'til the second trimester. And we're already there, Babe."

"I know." She sighs, her hand reflexively resting protectively over her stomach hidden behind her jacket. "Maybe you're right."

Moments later, everyone's picking a seat along the long rectangular table, and settling in, while the waitress is jotting down the drink orders from the women and everyone else that's already in need of a refill.

Glancing at the menu on the table, Christy lists the appetizers out loud, looking around the group for preferences before placing an order with the waitress for that too.

As soon as the waitress leaves again, Christy suddenly says, "Oh shit, I almost forgot," and starts digging a few things out of her purse, before she rounds the table toward Tara with a mischievous smile already directed at her friend.

Jax can't tell what Christy's holding yet, but whatever it is it has Tara already smiling embarrassedly while shaking her head at her friend, "Oh no, please tell me you didn't."

"Oh yes, I did," Christy replies and makes a show of pulling Tara back out of her chair, drawing everyone's attention to them when she places a sash over Tara's head and under one arm.

"I knew if I gave you this back at the hotel, you would've continently forgotten it in the room," Christy quickly explains while she helps Tara fix the white strip of fabric that reads 'Bride-to-be' in sparkly rhinestone letters across her chest, and then crowns her ceremoniously with a sparkling bride-to-be tiara as well.

"I am so gonna get you back for this," Tara announces playfully while everyone applauds a moment later when Christy practically forces her to do a little twirl now. And Jax can't help the twinge of possessiveness that has his jaw momentarily tensing when the eyes of all their male friends roam in surprise and appreciation over his wife.

Caught up in his feelings, he's completely caught off guard when Christy turns her attention to him and holds out something black -which turns out to be a t-shirt- for him to take. But before he's got it even unfolded he wonders out loud, "Lemme guess. Groom-to-be?"

"No. I couldn't find one in your size on short notice, so that'll have to do." Christy replies just as Jax stands up, holding the shirt up in front of him and the words 'Buy me a shot! I'M TYING THE KNOT' come into plain view, causing their friends to hoot, holler, and clap in approval and obvious amusement.

"Nice," someone shouts, and then "Put it on," shouts another, and he chuckles along with everyone else, and trying to be a good sport he then quickly unbuttons his long sleeve flannel, shrugs out of it, and pulls his version of the Groom-shirt on.

"Let's get a picture of you two," Christy demands, not even trying to hide the amused grin on her face while she's already raising her cell phone.

Jax steps up beside Tara, draping his arm around her and pulling her closer to his side, both of them smiling while their friends hurriedly take a few quick pictures of the couple to remember this night.

As soon as they're done taking pictures, Jax suddenly yells out, "Christy," gaining everyone's attention again, but especially Christy's, "Knowing you and Jason will be tying the knot real soon too," glancing down at his new shirt and then over at Tara again for just a split second, before he adds with a smirk, "I think I'm speaking for Tara as well when I say, payback is gonna be a bitch, darlin'."

And with that more laughter follows, only trumped by Christy's reply of "Bring it on, Teller" and the laughter that follows after that.

Jax raises both his hands, palms out, trying to shush and quiet everyone down again, and then adds, "All jokes aside though," he nods at Jason and Christy, "Jason, Christy, thank you so much for organizing tonight, and for everything you've done to help make tomorrow's wedding happen. Tara and I appreciate it so much."

"Yes, thank you." Tara quickly adds her own thanks before she engulfs her friends in a quick hug. "Love you, guys."

Just as they're all taking their seats again, two waitresses come back with large filled trays. One is handing out the ordered drinks, while the other places little plates, several bowls of chips, and different kinds of dips and salsa on the table.

Everyone starts digging in, lost in jovial conversations again, when Tara scoops a little dip on one of those little plates only to have Christy point to it and say, "That one's some kind of fish dip."

"Oh, okay," Tara replies, yet seemingly unconcerned adds another spoonful and a handful of chips to the plate, only to then hand the plate off to Jax a second later.

He raises his eyebrows as if surprised, but mutters "Thanks, Babe," and otherwise takes it without question before Tara fills another little plate with chips and a few scoops of one of the other dips for herself.

But unbeknownst to Tara, her friend Rayna, who's sitting right across from Jax and her, took notice. And Rayna also seems to suddenly remember now back at the hotel Tara had only sipped water while most of them had indulged in something from the mini-bar, and now she was sipping a virgin margarita.

She curiously raises an eyebrow while still thinking over the exchange between Tara and Jax just now, contemplatively glancing back and forth between her old childhood friends. And in typical Rayna-fashion she doesn't hold her tongue, so with a smirk and a humorous lilt to her voice she blurts out right as her eyes land back on Jax, "Virgin margarita, avoiding fish dip - Did you knock her up again, Jax?"

Although Tara had anticipated that someone might start connecting the dots and being questioned about her not drinking, Jax had not. And there's something comical about the way he's so caught off guard by the question being directed at him instead of Tara, that he stops chewing the chip he's just shoved in his mouth, glancing dumbfounded at his wife, and he can't help but think - That was fast!

The chatter around them has died down instantly, and although some of their friends already know, everyone's focus is suddenly diverted to Jax and Tara and clearly awaiting their reaction to Rayna's question.

Ever the good friend, Christy raises her margarita glass in the air and chimes in, "Mine's a virgin too. Don't wanna be hung over all day tomorrow."

Tara smiles gratefully back at her friend for the attempted diversion before she looks back over at Jax beside her, giving him the most imperceptible little nod that has him now quickly clearing his throat.

He looks almost too serious for a second as his eyes take in the expectant faces of their closest friends, only to throw a very suggestive look right back at the woman beside him. "I mean, look at her," he says with wonder in his voice and a mischievous smirk stretching across his face as he adds, "Just couldn't help myself."

"Seriously, you really are pregnant?" Rayna asks, surprised herself that she'd guessed it right, while their other friends are starting to clap.

Although Tara manages to quickly nod her head back at Rayna, she barely has a chance to register the other outbursts of "Congrats" and the like directed their way because Jax suddenly stands up and pulls her to her feet and into his arms.

Both his hands slip past her cheeks, fingertips disappearing into her hair and curling around the back of her neck to hold her in place when he leans in, and the moment his mouth meets hers, deeply kissing her in front of everyone, electricity sparks between them.

Instinctively, she snakes her arms around him too, holding on tight, feeling like she's going to swoon because no one kisses like Jackson Teller.

When his tongue slips between her lips, she feels like she's in heaven, with her toes literally curling, just like the trite expression suggests.

Her heart pounds against her ribcage, and goosebumps stand up along her skin, all the while all too familiar butterflies flit in circles in her belly. Every cell, every fiber of her being feels his invasion. This kiss turns a body of flesh and blood and bone into something electrically charged. Something aflame and combustible.

And then she can hear the clicks of someone's phone taking another picture to document this crazy act as well, but she's secretly glad because this is the best kiss in the world.

"I love you," he whispers against her lips when he finally lets up, his eyes open again and meeting hers.

"I love you," she easily replies, smiling and blushing at the excitement she can hear in their friends' voices when they start to bombard them with questions about the baby they are expecting.

X

Jax and the guys start racking the tables again, starting up a conversation with some guys at the table beside them. Chibs starts a game, playing against one of the new acquaintances they've made. They're locals and not surprised to hear that Jax and his friends are here for a wedding because apparently, this little town is a hotspot for that sort of thing.

"So you're the groom." One of the guys states the obvious out loud, nodding at Jax before his eyes drift to the dance floor where the girls have disappeared to, "Which one's the bride?"

Even though Tara has ditched the ridiculously looking tiara that made her stand out like a sore thumb, Jax's eyes still lock instantly on her. He'd find her in any crowd though, she might as well be the only one in this place, although with her being the only one in white some would argue she's pretty easy to spot.

He juts his chin in her direction. "The one in white," he clarifies before adding. "That's my girl." The possessiveness is clear in his voice, but he doesn't give a shit how it makes him sound. Not when Tara is looking so hot in a place full of horny men most of whom are too wasted to care that the sash she's wearing clearly reads 'Bride-to-be' in sparkling letters across her front.

"Wow, she's smoking!" The guy hums his appreciation, before he slaps Jax on his upper back, "You're a lucky son of a bitch."

"Yes, I am." He watches as she and the other girls let loose on the dance floor.

Watching her sway her hips from side to side, shaking that perfect round ass of hers, he swears she's moving like she's wearing flats instead of those sky-high heels she's got on. When she's like this, carefree and dancing, it shows a kind of confidence in her that rivals his own. It's mesmerizing to watch, especially knowing the battles she's had to fight to get here. She's been hurt and betrayed countless times by too many people to count, but most notably by Gemma, and what's even worse, by him too. But here she is, still smiling, still laughing out loud, still dancing, and standing proudly. It just comes to show what he's known all along, that Tara is without a doubt the strongest woman he's ever known.

He's met and been with his share of women, but he's always regarded Tara as one of a kind and in a league all of her own. Crazy smart, drop-dead gorgeous, successful and driven in her career, an amazing mother and wife, incredibly sexy, and unquestionably the best lay he's ever had, but beyond all of that, she just has an indescribable good heart. She's a good person! Too good for him, no doubt.

And she's proven her goodness by how she's healed him in ways he couldn't even begin to wrap his head around. All he knows is that she's taken the broken and damaged pieces and somehow made him whole again.

Every single time her lips touch his, it's like a piece of him is put back together, it's like breathing becomes that much easier, and it feels like he's finally where he has belonged all along. And it's become so clear to him now that Tara is the part of him that he'll always need. Not the Club. Not even Opie. Tara is the part he truly can not live without.

He'd thought he knew what it meant to love all along, but fuck after moving up here to be with her and his boys, his eyes have been opened about that in a new way by the love and forgiveness she's shown him.

And away from SAMCRO and Gemma, it has opened his world in a whole new way too. A way he never could've imagined.

It certainly hasn't been an easy shift, going from outlaw to just being a dad for his boys and a husband to Tara, all while sticking with his low-paying job to stay on the straight and narrow. But by now he's already grown used to how easy life can be without the constant worry of what he'll have to do to still be alive tomorrow looming in the back of his mind at all hours.

The life he's building with Tara and their kids is such a stark contrast to what he grew up in, but knowing and acknowledging that makes it that much easier to keep those boundaries he's set for himself with Club, and most importantly with his Mom, … for them. For Tara and his boys, and their new baby too.

Some people he's wronged in the past might hope that he'd never have this. They might think he isn't worthy of a future because of the mistakes he's made in the past, but his woman isn't one of those people.

His woman has seen something in him, something she sees to this day, and he is so fucking thankful for her. For every day she's blessed him with. For every kiss and for every caress. For the joined future she's gifted him when the truth is she owes him jack shit. Instead of sending him packing, sending him back to the hell he's been groomed for all his life by Gemma, she let him stay and brought him into her heaven.

Has he been busting his ass to get here with her? To give her tomorrow and earn a new beginning of their happily-ever-after with her?

Sure, but still, there'll never be a day when he won't be grateful to her. Grateful for every fucking thing she's given to him. And renewing their vows tomorrow is his way of solidifying all of that. Showing her and the world that he's all in. Tomorrow will signify the end of all the bad shit they've been through, and the beginning of everything good to follow. He and her, together and married again. To hell with the rest of the world.

In total control of her body and now no longer worried about having to hide the pregnancy from anyone, she's looking utterly carefree, rhythmically moving to the wild beat of the music while laughing out loud at something one of her friends just said.

Jax finds his cock twitching in approval just watching her shake and groove to the music. And he would be perfectly content to just sit in this chair and watch her from afar if he hadn't noticed the vultures already starting to circle the group of celebrating women. One of them in particular is eyeing Tara like he's trying to undress her with his eyes, obviously trying to get her attention.

Tara laughs again, throwing her head back and her hand reaches out to brace herself against Lyla's arm as if the weight of whatever has her laughing is too much to keep her upright.

And the guy stares at Tara with a cocked head, mesmerized as any red-blooded male would be by the sight of her in that dress, dancing and laughing like a woman with no inhibitions.

Therefore part of him knows he can't blame any guy for looking at her like that.

How could he when he feels savage with longing for her every minute of the day, even when he's already balls-deep buried inside of her? The truth is, he can never get close enough, fuck her long enough, plant himself deep enough. Not in her head, in her heart, and not in that sweet, perfect pussy of hers.

Jax also knows if someone could read his mind or heard him talk like this, it'd make him sound pathetic, and he also knows that his love for her is tragically riddled with his countless regrets, but that doesn't make it any less true.

His love for Tara just is.

Like the sky is blue, the grass is green and rain is wet. Jax has loved Tara from the first time he wrapped his arms around her, and he knows she feels the same.

But none of that quells the jealousy he feels burning like a straight shot of whiskey to his gut.

Jax looks at the ground, then back up at the guy watching his wife, but just as he's about to get up and head over there, Bobby puts a heavy hand on his shoulder, forcing him back into his seat. "We ain't in Kansas anymore, boy."

Jax slices his eyes over to Bobby's, giving him a puzzled look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means this ain't Charming, and nobody here gives a shit who you are, or … should I say who you were." Bobby follows Jax's gaze back to the dance floor where that same guy is now starting to dance closer to Tara. "Gotta be smart, 'cause you give a guy a beatdown 'round here, your bail ain't gonna get set 'til the court opens Monday morning. If you know what I mean?"

"Right." Jax gets what Bobby is trying to warn him about, and knows full well that if he handles this the wrong way he could end up spending the rest of tonight and all of the weekend in jail. But that doesn't mean he's just going to idly sit by and watch some guy harass his wife either.

Tara's body throbs to the music, the deep bass feels like it's vibrating her bones, further feeding into a primal urge to dance. She's actually glad now that she let her friends talk her and Jax into getting together tonight to just have fun before the big day tomorrow because she's truly enjoying herself. Mimicking Rayna, she lifts her arms in the air, head thrown back as she lets the beat lead her movements.

But suddenly she can feel someone press closer to her from behind, followed right away by a throaty rumble next to her ear. "I like how you move."

She rolls her eyes at the lame pickup line, although it's neither the first nor the worst that she and the girls have heard so far tonight. She sways away from him and gets straight to the point when she answers. "I'm not interested."

The guy steps closer again and it looks like he's just about to wrap his hands around Tara's waist when Rayna steps between them, throwing her arm around Tara instead, and says, "Let's get a drink, girl." Then throws the guy a dirty look before she adds, "It's getting too fucking crowded with creeps here anyway."

"You two lesbians or something?" They hear the guy call out behind them, and for whatever reason it makes them both laugh out loud at how ridiculous this guy is. Some men can be such stupid dumbasses, thinking the only reason a woman couldn't be interested in them, is if they're playing for the other team.

At the bar, Rayna orders just water, both of them pretty thirsty after all the dancing they've been doing. The bartender puts the glasses down on the bartop in front of them, and Tara greedily gulps it down in one go.

When she's done, she puts down the glass, and when she looks up, it's straight into the pair of her husband's piercing blue eyes as he's walking toward her. And she stares back, but his expression has her already wondering if he saw what had just played out on the dance floor a few moments ago.

Jax walks leisurely, and calmly toward her, but still with that familiar swagger of his. He's completely sure of himself. And why the hell not? He's gorgeous, and she's got no doubt that he knows it too. All grown man right now, nothing boyish about him tonight, not even his smile.

He stands next to her, and his eyes narrow a little when he asks, "Having fun?"

"Yeah, I am," she replies quietly, smiling as she's looking up at him. She is absolutely mesmerized, or maybe that's just her pregnancy hormones talking and still wreaking havoc on her lady parts. It seriously has her reevaluating her self-imposed celibacy tonight.

There's barely a hint of a smile when his sensuous lips part, revealing his even, white teeth. "Good, I'm glad."

He's still not letting on if he saw the guy that was coming on to her, but before either of them gets a chance to bring it up, Rayna's already tugging on Tara's arm, "Sorry, Jax. The dance floor's calling."

"Sorry." Tara mouths the word when she's looking back over her shoulder at him as Rayna pulls her back toward the dance floor.

And yup, there's definitely a hint of anger brewing under that scorching look he's throwing after her, and she's sure it's not because her friend is rushing her away to dance some more.

But as soon as she and Rayna join the rest of their friends on the dance floor again, she's trying not to give it another thought. She might not be able to drink tonight, but she can still have a good time, and so she goes right back to dancing and getting lost in the beat of the familiar and popular songs the DJ is playing for them.

Across the bar, Jax orders another beer all the while telling himself not to keep looking, that the girls seem to have it all under control, but it's like he has no damn self-control tonight. So a moment later his gaze meets Tara's hazel-green stare once again. Watching her chest rise like she is sucking in a large breath, apparently surprised he is already looking at her too.

And before she can turn her attention back to her friends, the same guy as before is back beside her and leaning into her personal space.

Jax straightens at once and is already on the move when Tara says something and presses her hand to the guy's chest, shoving him away from her.

Good!

The guy looks pissed, but Tara doesn't seem to notice nor care, her back already turned as she and the girls move to the other side of the dance floor away from him.

Just then Tara's gaze flicks to Jax again, seeing him approach, and for a moment, she stills and some unspoken words are passed between them, making it clear that all is fine and she really doesn't need rescuing.

Begrudgingly he takes the hint and stops in his tracks, but when Tara turns her attention back to Rayna and the rest of the girls, Jax's gaze switches back to the asshole. And what do you know, the guy is still watching her too, but when he doesn't make a move to follow her, Jax relaxes slightly. The only thing he hates more than an asshole is an asshole who won't take no for an answer.

His relief is short-lived though when the guy suddenly starts heading her way again and Jax sees red. Persistent motherfucker!

Does this asshole not understand the word no? Jax may not have heard what Tara actually said to the guy, but it's pretty obvious what a shove to the chest and her moving away from him meant.

But this time Jax doesn't wait for her to push this guy away again, instead, he hurriedly moves through the crowd, keeping Tara and the asshole in his sights the whole way.

Out of nowhere, firm hands come down on her hips, and for the split second of that first contact, she worries that they belong to that same suicidal idiot from a moment ago, but then she quickly recognizes the big, strong hands for the ones she's intimately known since she was sixteen.

One large hand slides down to spread over her lower stomach, almost too low considering they're not alone. She arches, pressing her butt against his crotch, and smiles. But then all of her is wrenched against his muscled body, his broad hands tugging her close and Jax's hot breath brushes her ear, but what he says is not at all what she expects to hear. "What that guy say to you?"

Amused, but not really surprised she tilts her head to stare into his blazing blue eyes. "It was nothing."

Jax's expression is hungry, but there is still a hint of anger too when he narrows his eyes at her like he had at the bar. "Babe?"

"I handled it myself, Jax."

For a moment Jax wants to inform her that the guy only backed off the moment he stepped up behind her just now, but he decides against it, allowing her the illusion that she had in fact handled it herself. So instead his fingers on her waist tighten when he bends his head toward her to whisper in her ear. "You look so freaking hot, Babe. Do you even realize every guy in here wants you?"

Her dress is revealing and overall she feels very sexy and confident tonight, but she still wants to roll her eyes at Jax's obvious exaggeration of 'every guy'.

"Well, good thing you're here to look after me then," she turns in Jax's arms so they're face to face now because agreeing with him is the fastest way to stop this from turning into an argument after all. Or worse, into him fighting someone on her behalf.

She catches a glimpse of their captive audience, realizing suddenly all their friends are watching them.

Jax's lips tip up on one side, surely realizing that she's patronizing him, but the way she's now grinding against him has him not giving a damn, and he instead presses his body against hers and circles his hips in time with the beat as well. But then can't help himself, when he adds, "It still makes me want to kill them all."

Yup, there he is. With his blond hair and blue eyes, Jackson Teller might have the face of an angel, but on the rare occasion that he has reason to show his jealous side, the devil inside him makes an appearance and God have mercy on anyone whom that wrath is directed at.

"You have no reason to be jealous," she admonishes him. And it's the undeniable truth that he really has no reason to ever be jealous again, and not just because of the ring on her finger that already marks her as his. The fact is, she's been his for as long as she can remember, long before their nuptials, and will be long after too.

But Tara's words apparently aren't enough, at least judging by the way Jax's hand clenches almost painfully on her ass when he jerks her even closer to the solid wall of his body and says. "I'm not jealous, Babe. I'm territorial. There's a difference."

She could swear they had this conversation before, but that thought slips her mind again when his hands frame her face next, fingers disappearing and fisting in her hair, and forcing her to keep her gaze up to his.

Blinking at his intense stare, she knows they're on display and now she understands why. Obviously, he wants everyone to know that they're together. Wants them to know that she's his, and she's almost ashamed to admit how much it turns her on when he gets like this. Because what he's doing is only slightly less subtle than if he whipped his dick out and started screwing her right here.

Christ, now she's got that image floating around in her head! But still. She wants his eyes on her. She wants the light of lust and admiration to spark in them when he looks at her body. And she wants his hands on her and no one else's.

And Jax doesn't disappoint when his lips crash down on hers, fierce and demanding and possessive, and she opens up for him, letting him claim her in front of everyone around.

He groans in approval, and although the kiss lets up, he still holds her tightly against him. He's not quite drunk, but he can admit he's definitely a little buzzed by now, enough that he doesn't care if his former brothers see him nuzzling his face into her hair and sniffing her sexy perfume that he's come to love. The scent is sweet and arousing that it has his dick twitching, instantly reminding him of her sweet taste when she comes on his tongue. He moves her hair aside before his lips move to her neck, and he slowly trails kisses downward toward her collarbone.

"Dance with me," she begs, snaking her arms around his neck.

And Jax does. Instantly bringing back memories of their Valentine's Day just a few short weeks ago. It had been so much fun. A man as tall and muscled as him shouldn't be able to move so smoothly. His hands are possessive on her ass, she rests her head on his shoulder as their bodies grind against one another to the pulsating dance music that's filtering through the bar's speakers, allowing their bodies to do all the talking for them.

Heat floods through her the longer they touch and tease one another. He presses his body against hers, grinding against one another in such a way that she should be ashamed of how quickly desire dampens her panties.

As if he knows what he's doing to her, he chuckles, sending yet another shiver down her spine. Pressing his cheek against hers, his lips find her ear. "This would be more fun if we were both naked," he rasps, but not surprising her with his words because his thoughts mirror her own.

More heat floods her cheeks, and there's no denying it any longer, she's so incredibly horny, that she's downright aching for him. And she really doesn't want to wait another twenty-four hours to get some much-needed relief. She wraps her arms tighter around his neck, and holds on, while they're both still rhythmically rocking against each other with the beat of the music.

A soft groan from him fills her ear, and she pauses to pull back to meet his eyes and sees him wet his lips right before he lowers his face to meet hers again. Their lips collide, like thunder chasing lightning, and she races to keep up. He groans again when she softly bites his lips, and in reaction, he squeezes her ass even harder.

"Fuck. Me," he mutters as he momentarily places a few kisses along her throat. But then he claims her mouth again, and a soft moan of satisfaction rumbles from within his chest.

This is the kind of high she loves to chase. The kind that'll make Jax unravel until he can't hold back anymore. Because she wants him to rush her off to someplace private, pin her against a wall, and wants to watch his face crumple as he loses control and fucks her until she forgets her name. She wants to be wanted by him.

Christ … If they keep this up, she's not sure she can stop herself from dragging him into one of the bathrooms after all. To hell with tradition and superstition, because as good as it feels right now, it feels like the most delicious torture knowing he won't be sharing a bed with her tonight.

X

"Didn't know you had moves like that, Jackie?" Chibs teases him when he and Tara return to the table, much to the delight of the rest of SAMCRO in attendance.

But Jax's embarrassed reply is two raised middle fingers aimed at his former Club brothers, which gains him another round of laughter before he returns his attention back to Tara.

Tara exhales as Jax wraps his arms around her and pulls her close for an intimate embrace. As much as she wants Jax, she knows she needs to stop being greedy.

The problem is, with him rubbing his hand up and down her back as he holds her tightly, while she is cocooned in his muscular arms inhaling the familiar fresh scent that is uniquely him, greedy is exactly what she is feeling.

Tara closes her eyes and rests her head on Jax's shoulder, just wanting to absorb all of him. There is nothing like being held by him ... well, except for him being inside of her. That is the only thing that is better. But this is a close second and her hormones have her so riled up she'll gladly take whatever she can get.

Then his breath hits her neck and a flurry of goosebumps breaks out over her skin as a blanket of heat follows them and connects at her core, intensifying the ache that's already pulsing there. Even she can't explain why her body is reacting to him like that, and since she's stone-cold sober, she can't even blame it on drinking either.

But then Jax shifts his legs, one of his hands dropping to her ass to pull her in closer and she can feel the evidence of his arousal now too as it is pressing against her belly.

Glad to know she isn't the only one who is feeling greedy, she lifts her chin and meets his eyes, giving him a knowing look.

He smiles back at her mischievously, and so their nearby friends won't overhear him, he answers her look with a whisper, "Ignore it."

But the more Tara plays with the idea of not ignoring it, the crazier her heartbeat gets. Soon she'll need a cold shower because she can't think of anything other than to have his hands on her skin, his husky voice whispering in her ear, those lips against hers, and that big cock sinking into her … Christ! "What if I don't want to ignore it?" She quietly confesses in the form of questions. "What if I want to give it lots of attention?"

Oh, you will, he thinks to himself. Because tomorrow night he'll fuck her every which way possible until they'll both end up near comatose from too many orgasms. An instant reel of snapshots of what that will look like starts playing in his mind's eye, ending with her naked and barely covered by the sheets, her tired body and limbs draped over his, both of them completely spent from pleasure. The thoughts have his throat tighten and his cock grow even stiffer.

"What do you think, baby?" Tara's seductive voice snaps him out of his mental fuck-fest, realizing he hasn't answered her.

"I'm thinking you're a fuckin' tease, Babe. Determined to torture me tonight." He whispers back with both a hint of frustration and amusement in his strained-sounding voice. But in his twisted way of trying to torture her back, he slips his fingers up the hem of her dress, gliding them teasingly along the underside of her bare ass, and with it confirming that she is in fact wearing just a thong.

Tara gasps in surprise, and even though she nervously looks back over her shoulder to see if anyone's noticing or watching -which turns out nobody is- she doesn't stop him because it simply feels too damn good.

And just when she thought she couldn't possibly get any wetter down there, it becomes clear that she's been mistaken about that too.

But just as unpredicted as he started he then stops, tucking her dress back in place, and simply rests his palm on her ass, on top of the fabric this time.

He raises one hand and sweetly cups her cheek and tilts her face toward him for a moment, undoubtedly an attempt to offset the sinful thing he just did to her, but it's no use, she's made up her mind to see this through now.

The new wedding band they'd only just exchanged on Valentine's Day a month ago shines like a bright reminder that if she really wants him right now, he won't turn her down. "Remember Valentine's Day?" Her voice is still low as she glances around again to make sure no one's close enough to listen in, "You promised me a reenactment of … I think you called it our teenage bathroom escapades."

How could I forget about that? He adjusts his hand on her ass, pressing her and holding her even tighter against his body, but contradicting his actions when he whispers back. "I'm trying hard to be a gentleman, Babe. But you keep talking and looking at me like that, all bets are off."

The combination of the pressure from his palm, his hardness pressing against her, the intensity in his blue eyes, and the edge to his voice, has her all too eager to find out what happens when 'all bets are off'. So she can't stop herself from teasing him, the innuendo clear and unmistakable with the seductive lilt of her voice. "I can feel exactly how hard it is for you, Jax, but when have I ever asked you to be a gentleman?"

The look he gives her is a mixture of heat and confusion. "Are you saying you changed your mind about sleeping apart tonight?"

"No," she instantly shakes her head, even though the thought of ditching that tradition has occurred to her earlier too. "We're definitely still sleeping apart tonight, but I'm pretty sure nobody's gonna miss us if we disappear somewhere for five minutes." She works one hand between them to inconspicuously palm his length, bringing more emphasis to what she's suggesting in case it isn't clear.

And Jax groans. He fucking groans. Tara loves the sound of it, and can't help the little laugh that escapes her as she's peeking up at him.

"Oh, you think this is funny?" He's watching that pink fuck-me mouth of hers twist into a smile of pure triumph.

"Yeah. Kinda," she admits with another little giggle.

But Jax stops her giggle when he suddenly spins her, and moves into her body, pressing her against the wall near the mounted pool cues.

Her heart skips a beat at the suddenness of his mouth on hers. It's passionate, urgent, and domineering. She melts against him as one hand grips the side of her jaw, and the other fists her hair, angling her just the way he wants her.

He decimates her with this scorching kiss, while the unmistakable bulge in his pants presses deliciously against her, enticing her further. And instantly the fantasy of them alone someplace, with him backing her up against a wall just like this, burying his face in her neck and his cock between her parted thighs sends goosebumps trailing all over her body and making her shiver again.

But then someone somewhere wolf-whistles, breaking their spell, and when Jax steps back she drops back to her feet from where she'd strained on the tiptoes of her high heels to get even closer.

Her cheeks are pink and there's unmistakable lust in both their eyes when they stare at each other for a long moment.

Jax knows that screwing his woman in a public bathroom obviously isn't the most responsible thing to do the night before your wedding, but how could he resist when clearly something has brought out the throw-caution-to-the-wind side of her again. So if she's game, he's game.

"Five minutes, huh?" He asks although he knows she's full of shit if she thinks five minutes will be enough time. It'll take longer just to find a suitable place without anyone noticing, let alone screw.

"If we run, we can probably make it in four." She grins at him, and her eyes shine with delight at whatever conspiracy she thinks they are about to undertake.

Christ, I forgot how much trouble she can be! He can't help but think, but the truth is he's always loved seeing that side of her. It has him shaking his head and chuckling, but unable to resist he plays into it when he teases her. "I had a much different reason in mind to get you gasping for breath."

"All talk, no action." She teases him right back, enjoying this back-and-forth way too much, but she knows if he finally bites she'll enjoy that even more.

He slips his fingers between hers then, gripping her hand, and leads the way through the crowd, completely ignoring their friends' questions about where they're going.

The length of his hurried strides has her practically jogging just to keep up with him, which is quite a feat in her tight dress and high heels.

But she doesn't care, too turned on and excited about what Jax's plan is, she hurries along. She might've not been drinking tonight, but she was feeling drunk on his touch and the kiss they just shared and on ideas of what's about to happen when Jax finds them a suitable place to be alone.

X

"You sure?" he asks again just to be certain she won't regret breaking with tradition after all.

She gives him a flirty smile as she grabs the front of his shirt and pulls him back in when she says. "I'm sure." But then her face contorts in confusion for a second when she questions him back, "Are you having second thoughts?"

He shakes his head. "Of course not, but I'm not the flighty one."

Although she knows she's earned that description, she still narrows her eyes at him and denies his accusation wholeheartedly. "I'm not flighty."

He chuckles, cocking his head to the side as if he's saying 'Really?', but instead he just says. "If you say so, Babe." And then with one last look over his shoulder to ensure nobody's watching, he opens the door and ushers her through ahead of him before he quickly follows behind.

The door clicks shut behind them, and they both hold their breath, trying to hear for any sounds coming from the upstairs area. All is quiet, so they carefully find their way upstairs, the hallway is dark and Jax uses the flashlight on his phone to check all the doors, surprised to find them all locked.

"This is fine," she answers, pulling him into a small alcove, away from sight should anyone step out of one of those doors after all.

Tara expected they'd be frantically tearing each other's clothes off by now but is surprised when Jax simply holds her for a moment. Then his nose gently grazes her neck, and she swears he breathes her in, or maybe it's only her doing that to him. The smell of him is always so comforting. It makes her feel safe and reminds her of home.

But then his hands slowly frame her face, and he closes the small gap between their lips, pressing his against hers. He kisses her, his mouth pressing hard against hers, and she reciprocates, her whole being just melting into him.

Jax's tongue slides across the seam of her lips, she parts them for him, and the second their tongues touch, he feels a fire erupt from his chest, and when he deepens the kiss, neither of them can hold back the soft moans that escape between their lips.

Jax's arm wraps around her and pulls her close. Her heart is beating so quickly that it feels as though it's going to come out of her chest. The hard outline of his cock pressing against her stomach only makes it worse.

He groans, his mouth leaving hers to travel down her neck. Her eyes flutter open to only find darkness, and although her eyes have already adjusted to it enough that she can see him clearly, it instantly reminds her again where they are, and the thought of getting caught adds to the excitement.

Jax moves his hand to her hips, pulling her closer to him. The need to touch her is quickly becoming too great, and he runs his hand down the curve of her ass to the hem of her short dress. He slips his hand underneath her dress and over her curvy backside, her skin feels so smooth and warm against his hand, and he instantly craves more contact.

Tara must have had the same thought because her hands are practically clawing at the back of his t-shirt as she brings her left leg up to rest against his hips. The new position allows him to rub against her, their bodies thrusting against each other much like they had on the dance floor.

The sensation causes a wave of pleasure to shoot down his spine, and it's just another reminder that he's never going to have enough of her. And while his head tells him to hurry this thing along, clearly, his body and cock have other ideas.

And so she gasps out in surprise when she feels him drop down in front of her, and her back hits a wall as he suddenly pins her to it. His fingers glide up her legs, pushing up her dress to expose her lower half to him.

"Baby," She moans in a whisper when he slips his fingers beneath her soaked panties and pulls them aside.

His warm breath is already teasing her clit, when he says, "Fuck, Babe, you're so wet."

He lets out another groan before burying his face between her thighs, pulling one of her legs up onto his shoulder to give him easier access. Running his tongue along her slit to catch the moisture gathered there, lapping it up like dripping ice cream.

She blindly reaches her hand out to the wall beside her, glad when her fingers connect with something, a shelf maybe, she can brace her hand on, needing to cling to something as his mouth begins to devour her.

Heat blooms between her legs, the sheer raw desire between them hotter than she expected.

Her nipples pebble straining against the fabric of her bra, and she can't help but work a hand into her bra, touching her sensitive skin, teasing herself as she watches Jax's face nestled between her parted thighs.

She can't believe he's going down on her here since they're supposed to be quick about this, but it's been so long since he's done this. So who's she to argue?

She squirms against him, the sensation getting too much already, she's so close that she moans his name, "Jax."

A groan rumbles from him when he pushes two fingers inside of her, and his tongue circles her clit before latching on to it just the way she likes it.

It's almost embarrassing to admit, but that's all it takes to push her over the edge. Tara's body starts to quiver, and she lets out a moan of ecstasy, followed by a moan of his name again as the orgasm rushes through her. The pleasure is beyond anything she ever could've hoped for, but she should have known it would be this way with him no matter where they are, and no matter the circumstances.

Seeing his woman fall apart from just a few touches and some dirty words, fills him with such self-satisfaction, it's intoxicating. It makes him want to do it again and again, but they don't have time for any more of this, not here and now.

"I want you, Babe," Jax says as he slowly lowers her until her foot is back on the ground before he rises to his feet. His mouth meets hers in another kiss, giving her a taste of herself that's lingering on his lips and tongue.

She wants to give him the same pleasure he gave her and quickly reaches down to undo his belt and jeans. Not the least bit surprised that he watches her hands work his pants open and his cock free, knowing that her doing it has always turned him on in the past. She pulls him free, grabbing his cock, gliding her fingers over the hard length, even more turned on when she notices the tip of his shaft already glistening.

Without another moment to spare, Jax steps closer, this time pulling one of her legs up around his hip. He works her panties more to the side again, and then a grunt leaves him as he takes over for her, rubbing his cock between her legs, and stroking himself a few times against her slick pussy.

He's teasing her, continuing to rub the head of his cock up and down it, pressing his hard length repeatedly against her slick folds, but making sure he's hitting her clit too in a now obvious attempt to send her into another orgasm.

Tara lets out a moan when the head of Jax's cock sinks into her. But then he grabs her other thigh, hooking her second leg over his hip too, and she groans out in utter contentment when he finally slides his cock all the way inside, his girth stretching her in the best way possible.

Her eyes flutter closed at the pure bliss of finally feeling him where she's wanted him for so long, because beneath the good manners, and charming smiles, she wants to be ravaged. Rode hard. Possessed. But only by him.

She has missed that thick, straining cock pounding relentlessly into her. Almost too much, too big, to take, but she takes it like she was made for every inch.

She gasps against his lips, fingernails scrabbling for purchase against his shoulders, writhing in pleasure at her impending orgasm. Moaning his name as her body surrenders and her sweet pussy seizes around his still-moving cock.

She has to bite down on her lower lip not to moan too loudly this time, her body jerking, every single one of her nerves tingling as he pants and grunts near her ear. When she finishes for the second time, she's too sensitive for more, feeling like she needs to slump over and pass out.

But he doesn't let her. He pulls her legs a little higher over his hips, and drives himself deeper, all while staring straight into her eyes.

Jax now fucks her in short, brutal bursts of power that would have her sliding up the wall if it weren't for the way he's holding onto her and is crushing her against the expanse of his flexing muscles, forcing her to take it.

Her fingers curl around the back of his neck, holding on for dear life. Jax is not a man used to being denied and those unbearable nights they've spent with two restless boys sleeping between them and keeping them apart surge through him in hard, fast, thrusts. His hand curls around her ass, holding her steady as he fucks into her over and over.

She's surrounded by his scent, his heat, his breath and all the time spent longing for this fall away, and everything is consumed in this moment. Him. Her. Them.

There's no room for anyone else. No other history. Just what was always supposed to be.

Tara and Jax.

"Jax." She breathes into his mouth, clamping her teeth on the soft flesh of his lower lip for a moment before she begs without an ounce of shame, "Don't stop, don't stop -please, oh, God-" Shuddering waves roll down her spine, and her pussy clenches around him just as tightly as her thighs for the third time. She whimpers from the force, and he swallows her moans with his kiss, keeping her quiet and keeping her all to himself.

The rock of his hips grows impatient now, erratically thrumming into her with wild abandon. It feels so good, but so deep, that it borders on pain, but she holds on to him and doesn't let go, because she wants to make him feel as good as he's made her feel.

"I'm coming," he grunts, burying his head into her shoulder as he keeps driving into her. His fingertips dig into her soft flesh, possibly leaving a bruise behind but she doesn't mind. His voice is all hard when he groans her name against her throat, "Tara -fuck!" He grinds his teeth, jerking against her just once more before he goes completely rigid.

And she swears she then feels it: his cock pumping her full of his hot cum as he comes deep inside of her.

Her eyes have completely adjusted to the darkness, so it's not hard to make out his beautiful face when he straightens up. Not that she needs to. She knows what expression he has on it. She's memorized every detail of him in the afterglow of sex.

A moment later he gently eases his hips back, and his cock slips from her, leaving her feeling empty as he carefully holds onto her while she lowers both her feet back to the ground.

He tucks his dick away, pulls his jeans back up, and then quickly pulls something out of his pocket, holding it out to her.

"It's a napkin," he explains when she gives the napkin and him a dubious look, and then he adds, "It's clean. I swear."

"How chivalrous," she teases sarcastically, but without another second to spare, she grabs it, cleaning herself as well as she can under the circumstances, and then pulls her panties back into place. The silky material sticking to her sex.

"Least I can do," he teases her back and vows to himself that tomorrow night, he'll spoil her with orgasm after orgasm. He'll fuck her but also love on her. Kiss and hold her, and make her feel cherished and the safest she ever has, in his arms.

The sound of his zipper that follows seems oddly loud even with the bar still in full swing just below, and she stands there for a few seconds trying to collect herself. Her heart is still racing at the thought of what they've done. She might have orgasmed multiple times, but still, her hormonal body seems to want even more of him. When it comes to Jax, she never seems to get enough of lately.

Jax brings her back to the moment when he pulls her dress down and back into place for her, giving her a concerned look when he asks, "You okay, Babe?"

She nods yes just as Jax's phone starts to vibrate in his pocket, he quickly pulls it out, glancing at the screen. "They're looking for us."

"You go ahead. I need a second." She says, feeling strangely wobbly on her feet after all this.

He takes an audible breath as concern for her edges into his features when he calmly explains the obvious, "We need to get out of here before we get caught, Babe."

"I love you, Tara!" He says right as he brushes his mouth against hers in a feather-like kiss, then reaches for her hand and slides his fingers between hers without another word. Making sure the coast is clear, he pulls her down the stairs and back through the door with him.

As expected, a few people near the bathroom notice them slipping out of the door that clearly reads 'Employees only', but Jax gives a death stare to anyone who dares to look their way as they walk past to return to the main room of the bar.

"Don't do that," she tells him.

"Do what?" he grumbles, glancing back at her before he pulls her beside him, and curls his arm around her now.

"Glaring at people like that," she replies.

"They should keep their eyes to themselves then." He gestures for her to step ahead of him when their path through the crowd gets more narrow, his hands are on her hips now as he's walking right behind her.

"What are we gonna tell them where we were?" she wonders, looking back at him over her shoulder.

His eyes trace her body until he reaches her face, smirking. "Pretty sure they're gonna know."

She stops abruptly and her mouth falls open looking back at him again before she looks down at herself, but not sure she gets what he's implying, she asks, "It's that obvious?"

His hand reaches up, pushing some of her long hair off of her shoulder, revealing blotchy skin where his beard scraped her while he'd kissed and fucked her, and nods, looking smug as he chuckles, "Yeah. Pretty fucking obvious."

She blushes, but it's hardly noticeable since she looks flushed already, and throws him an unamused look, "Could you at least try to not look so proud of yourself, Teller?"

"I can try, but no promises." He laughs, then throws his arm back around her shoulder to get back on the way to their friends.

X

Author's Note: If you're still here and reading, please leave me a review and let me know what you think. Thank you.