Vengeance (5 page)

Oh, that’s kind of hot.

Right?
Touch yourself.

No.

Yes.

What for?

I want you to.

I don’t want to. I am saving myself.

For what?

You.

Ohhhhhh
.
In that
case go
to sleep, I will see you first light.

I wish you were in my bed right now.

MMMM, Ditto.

Good night pirate.

Night, princess xx

CHAPTER
3

I roll about, unable to sleep. When I finally drift, I see Jax with another woman, his lips on her body. I wake up, and my heart is clenching, it hurts so badly. I want to just forget, but it is so hard. I clamp down my tears; I am being stupid. I miss him. I am nervous. I can’t help the tiny part of me that wonders what he is doing. I glance at the time; it is midnight. Should I call? After a great debate, I do.

“Jax?”
I whisper when he answers.

“Hey baby, what’s up?” His voice is sleepy.

I begin to cry,
Damn
, that was not the plan.

“Hey, what is going on?”

“I saw it, in my dream…you…with someone else.”

“Oh mate, I knew you weren’t over it.”

“I can just see you touching a woman, it hurts so
bad
.
Jax, why?”

“I wish I could take it away, I don’t know how. I don’t remember a bloody thing, no matter how hard I try but what am I to think? I was naked in the room with another woman.”

“I…I just…”

“I wish I could make you feel just a bit better.”

“It is
all my
fault, I know that.”

“No, it wouldn’t have mattered what you did to me, there was no excuse for that.”

“I broke your heart, I lied and cheated.”

“Mate, we talked about this. You know I love you; you know I wouldn’t ever hurt you. I need you to believe that.”

“I…can’t,
God
, I need to go.”

“Baby…”

I hang up and rush outside; I can’t breathe. I drop to my knees, and pant. I can’t bloody breathe. Rusty is coming past and rushes over. He grips my shoulders and lifts me slightly.

“Hey, hey lass, breathe come on.”

I can’t, I am dying,
my
heart is throbbing. What is happening? Why can’t I think? Why can’t I speak? I am panting so heavily, sweat trickles down my face.

“Breathe, Jade, breathe.”

“I c-c-c-can’t!”
I wail.

“With me lass, with me, in…out…”

I follow his breathing, in and out, in and out, until I can make sense of things.

“Now, come on, hush. What is happening?”

“He cheated on me, he said he doesn’t remember, but he said he did it.” I sob.

“Is that what you think?”

“He told me?”

Rusty curses. “Fool.”

“You didn’t want him to tell me?”

“
God
, I didn’t realize he thought he cheated on you.”

“Rusty, you aren’t making sense.”

He sighs. “Sit.”

He helps me to the seat beside the hut, and we sit.

“I thought Jax knew he didn’t sleep with her, I didn’t realize he told you he did. I knew you were having problems, but he was hush
hush
, letting us believe it was from the betrayal.”

“He didn’t sleep with her?” It is all I heard.

“No, he met her in a bar, and they laughed and joked. He was drunk, so drunk, so was she. They went upstairs, and I followed, ready to rip his head clean off. I walked in, to find him passed out on the bed butt naked; she was pulling his shoes off in a fit of giggles. Then, the stupid girl hurled her guts up and passed out beside him. I left them there, figuring one would certainly leave when they came to; I wasn’t carrying either one out covered in spew. He came down in the morning, and I figured he had left as he didn’t say anything. I checked Jade, once or twice during the night, and they remained passed out cold. He didn’t touch her.”

I am sobbing heavily. “I…he said he didn’t remember, it should have clicked then.”

“He was rotten drunk, rotten; it really doesn’t surprise me that he doesn’t remember.”

I hug my knees. “
God
, all that pain…”

“If I knew he told you, I would have cut in. He wouldn’t do that to you lass; he was taking her to her room to put her to bed out of the kindness of his heart, not because he wanted her. He was just too drunk to do so. You should know not one of us members would ever let him hurt you like that.”

I meet Rusty’s gaze. “I should have known that, yes.”

“I’d never let anyone hurt you lass, you are like my daughter.”

“Rusty, you have relieved so much in me, thank you.”

“Do you want me to give him a call?”

“No, I’ll do it. Thanks Rust.”

He kisses my head and stands.
“Always lass.”

When he is gone, I plod back into the hut and call Jax. He answers first ring.

“
God
baby, don’t scare me…”

“You didn’t sleep with her.”

“What?”

“Rusty, he told me you didn’t.”

“Rusty knew…I didn’t?”

“Yes, he saw me crying, and when I told him why, he said you didn’t. He didn’t know you had told me, or he would have told you. He thought you knew you didn’t. He said he followed you up, and you were out cold, and the girl was stripping you. Then she threw up and passed out, and so he left you there. Checked on you through the night and said you didn’t move.”

“Fuck,” Jax growls. “Fucking hell…”

“You didn’t sleep with her.” I whisper.

“He couldn’t have fucking moved me,
God
what is wrong with him?”

“You are a big man Jax, and he is ol
d, he made sure nothing went on. H
e did a good thing.”

“Fuck, I thought…all this time.”

“It’s over Jax, you didn’t.”

“
God
, it seemed crazy I couldn’t remember but…”

“I love you.” I whisper.

He pauses for a long moment.

“Say that again.”

“I love you, pirate.”

He gives a shaky laugh. “
God
baby, I have missed this.”

“Me too, can we just get over all this Jax?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Then, let’s get to sleep because I am shattered.”

“See you in the morning, darlin.”

“You bet, Captain.”

I wake in the morning with a light heart, thank
God
. I sit up with a moan and look
around,
I see Jax is in my room. He is staring at me and smiles when I sit up.

“Hey.” I say.

“Hey mate, happy birthday.”

“How long have you been here?”

“An hour or so.”

“You should have woken me.”

“I got you something.”

“You did?” I grin.

“Sure, wouldn’t
forget my
girls
birthday.”

“Is that why you went away a night?”

He winks at me, then stands and pulls two things from behind the chair. One is a huge box and the other a tiny one.

“Oh Jax, what is that?” I cry, grinning like a small child.

“I love how excited you are.”

“Oh, I haven't had a present for so long!”

He hands me the first big box, and I tear it open then freeze. Tears spring to my eyes and I suck in a ragged breath. It is a guitar, a beautiful, shiny guitar.

“You are talented, and I love hearing you sing.” He says, by way of explanation.

“I…haven’t sung for so long.”

“Well, you shouldn’t stop.”

“Oh Jax, I love it. I really love it.”

“I am glad to see you smile.”

I pull the guitar out and tune it, then begin softly strumming the keys. He leans back and smiles; he looks peaceful.

“One more, then you can sing me a song.”

He hands me a small box and I take it, spinning it around in my hands for a long moment.

“What is it?”

He snorts. “Open it and see.”

I flick the box open and gasp. It is not what I expected; I thought it would be earrings or a neck lace, even a ring, but this is much better. I smile and look up at him. He grins. I look down at the belly button ring,
of a
skull and crossbones.

“Jax…this….”

“You hate it?”

“
God
, no!
It is the most spectacular present; it’s so...
Jax.”

He laughs and kneels before me, unscrewing the one I am already wearing. He slides it out and then replaces it with the new ring. The skull and crossbones
dangles
down over my round belly. He kisses beside it and then looks up at me.

“Just making you more a pirate.”

I smile, and when he stands, I hug him.

“Thank you so much, I am overwhelmed.”

“No worries. Now, sing me that song.”

He sits down, and I sit beside him, and begin strumming on the guitar again. He leans back and stares intently at me as I sing.

“He said the way my blue eyes shined, put those Georgia stars to shame at night, I said that’s a lie…He’s just a boy in a Chevy truck, that had a tendency of getting stuck on back roads at night and I was, right there beside him all summer long, and then the time I woke up to find that, summer gone…”

Jax smiles at me, his heart entirely in that smile. When I am done, I hug him tightly.

“Thank you Jax.”

“Anytime.
Mind if I jump in the shower? Don’t
leave,
I am taking you to the dining area.”

“Sure. Can I come?” I tease.

He looks long and hard at me. “I don’t know…naked…showers…”

“It’s my birthday
Mr
Watts; you have to do everything I ask.” I bat my eyelashes at him.

“Well in that case, come on.”

We walk into the shower, and when he strips out of his clothes, I blush. I take my clothes off, and then hesitate at my underwear. He cocks an eyebrow at me.

“Nothing I haven't seen before, darlin.”

I hesitate a moment longer, then pull my underwear off and step into the shower, his gaze slides over me. I fold my arms over my chest.

“Eyes up here pirate.”

“I’m just checking my wife still has it.”

“And?”

“Oh yeah,” He says huskily. “She’s got it alright.”

I glance down at his rising…oh boy. I wash quickly and zip out of that shower so quickly it looks as though I have had a flare jammed up my backside.
When I am dressed and waiting on my bed, he comes out.

“Did I scare you darlin?”

“Stop calling me darlin. You sound like a cowboy.”

He rubs his chin. “It’s not a bad career change.”

I laugh. “Yeah I can’t see it.”

“You’re my darling.”

“Wow Watts, I think that’s the nicest thing you ever said.”

“You ready to go?” He asks pulling on his jeans and a tight black shirt.
Damn
.

“You look hot
.”
I blurt.

He grins. “Thanks.”

“Thanks?”

“Thanks darlin.”

I dress and then twirl around; he laughs and kisses my head.

“You look hot, even when you are round.”

“I know right?” I grin.

“You ready for your party?”

“Party?”
I chirp.

“Yep, come on. Everyone’s waiting.”

“Everyone,
God
, I need to brush my hair nicer. Maybe this dress isn’t right.”

“You women.”

“I want to look nice.”

“You always look nice baby.”

“MMMMM.”

I slide my dress off, not content with how I look, and Jax sucks in a breath of air. Oh yeah, I have nothing on underneath it. I grin at him, and his eyes turn lusty.

“Later.” I laugh, slowly pulling a pair of shorts on.

“Maybe now.”
He growls.

“Maybe later.”

He grasps my hips and drags me forward, pulling my breast into his mouth. I groan and grip his head, running my fingers through his thick, unruly hair. He torments my breasts with his tongue and lips, and then pulls back.