by Lane Hart
Swiftly we walk through the dark hallway, down the stairs, and out the back door of the courthouse to head for the jail entrance across the street.
"Would you marry him?" Logan asks once we're on the dark, quiet street.
"What!" I exclaim, coming to a dead stop.
"Were you just fucking him or do you love him enough to marry him?"
"I-I don't know. Why?"
The idea of marrying Jax doesn't send me into a full blown panic attack like the thought of marrying Elliot always did. Actually, the thought of spending the rest of my life with Jax was nice. More than nice. Living with him, having him always be the first person I see every morning and the last person I talk to every night? That's maybe the easiest decision I'll ever make. But Jax...he's terrified of marriage after what his mother did to his father...
"Jax wouldn't..."
"If he agreed to marry you, would you?" Logan asks.
"Yes."
"There's a loophole in the sex with client rule. Marriage. The husband-wife confidentiality trumps attorney-client."
"You think that will really work after the fact? But what about his appeal?"
"He can still allege ineffective assistance of counsel, that you were clearly conflicted, and then have another attorney take his case to the Court of Appeals. But the Bar won't be able to discipline you for it if you're married. Jax wouldn't be required to testify against you, but as it is, they will force him to testify now, and hold him in contempt if he refuses."
"Holy crap, Logan. I think you might be a genius! But what if he doesn't agree. He probably won't, and I'm not going to make him marry me just to keep my license."
"It won't hurt to ask him, right? And there's always a magistrate on duty at the jail. I'll ask Jax and see if he'll actually agree instead of just going along with it in front of you. If so, then we'll get it done."
"You mean, now? Like we'd...we'd get married tonight?" I ask.
"The sooner the better."
"Oh God. Dad's going to kill me, isn't he?" I exclaim, covering my face when more tears fall.
"Yeah, he is. It's a good thing he's scared shitless of your soon-to-be husband."
Chapter Fifteen
Jax
Don't freak out. Don't freak out.
Despite how many times I repeat my new motto, I'm on the verge of freaking the fuck out. Everything is happening so fast, before I can wrap my head around any of it. I can't say I'm entirely surprised by the verdict. Page had warned me all along that I could get convicted because of those goddamn pictures of her neck. But having it happen and now dealing with it is a different story.
I'd had to surrender all of my possessions, including my clothes except for my boxer briefs and socks, which I only got to keep after the guard conducted a cavity search. I shiver at that unpleasant memory. Now I'm back in an orange fucking jumpsuit like I wore while I was waiting to make bond a few weeks ago. Even if the bright color is going to make me go blind, I have to admit it's pretty damn comfortable. The flip flops under my socks are another story, and the handcuffs continuously dig into my wrists, making even the simplest maneuvers difficult.
Of the long list of un-pleasantries, the smell is the worst. That familiar aroma of piss, shit and despair has my stomach rolling, and I haven't even made it past the administration stage yet.
Despite how fucked up things are in here, I can’t stop worrying about Page. How upset she must be, wrongly blaming herself. Hell, I'd give anything to be in bed holding her. And now she's fucked up her career because of my dumbass. If I was pissed about anything, other than the bitch lying to cause all this drama, it'd be that Page went and screwed herself over to try and help me.
"Malone, let's go," one of the older sheriff deputies says, indicating I should stand up. Shit, I guess this is where they seal me in behind the bars with some lovely new roommates.
In a tiny, cramped space.
At least they'd finally ditch the handcuffs.
"Your attorney wants to see you," the deputy says when we start down a hallway.
Thank fuck! I need to see Page and try to talk some sense into her if it's not too late.
"In you go," he says, opening a big heavy door that leads to a small room with a metal table and two metal folding chairs.
And definitely not Page.
I start to say to the deputy that he has the wrong guy when I realize the blonde, clean cut man with bright blue eyes looks familiar. Page's brother?
"Logan?"
"How are you doing?" he asks, his expression full of pity.
"Awesome," I respond. "Where's Page?"
"Waiting outside. There's something I need to talk to you about first."
"Okay?"
"Do you love her?" he asks, sitting down in one of the chairs, so I follow suit.
"Yes."
"Enough to marry her?" he asks, and my mouth falls open.
Marry her? Where was this conversation going? Of course I've thought about it, and hell wanted it, but I knew it was a long shot because then everyone would assume we'd slept together while I was her client.
Being with her for the past few weeks...I can't imagine my life without her now. Thinking about having to go just six short months away from her is physically painful. I never want to be separated from her. I want to spend the rest of my life with that woman.
"I'd marry her in a heartbeat."
"Great, so should I get her and the magistrate to come on in?" he asks, standing up to leave.
"What the fuck? You mean like get married right now? Here?" I exclaim in confusion.
"Like I told her, the sooner the better. If you're married, I think there's a chance that she might be able to keep her law license."
"Well in that case, hell yes! Go get them." Relief washes over me. She might still be able to practice and hadn't thrown it all away on me.
He smiles and nods. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, and you agreeing to do this for Page."
"I'd do anything for her."
"Then she's lucky to have you," he says.
After Logan bangs on the door, a deputy opens it and he disappears.
I stand up and pace, waiting. I ask myself if I'm sure this isn't crazy. I can't find a single shred of doubt or second guessing. After how my parents' marriage ended, I never thought I'd want anything to do with the fucked up institution. But I want Page to be mine. Forever.
The door finally opens again and Page is the first one through. The sadness on her face hits me like a punch to my gut. And then the tears are enough to bring me to my knees. She heads for me and I have to lift my cuffed hands over her head to hold her, pulling her to me and tucking her under my chin.
"Hey baby, don't cry."
"I'm sorry." She sobs against my chest.
"Me too. I'm sure you never imagined your wedding day quite like this."
"Are you sure about this? You don't have to," she says, looking up with her watery, blue eyes and red face. "It might not even work."
"I want to," I assure her. "I'd marry you for no other reason other than to just make you my wife. If it helps you keep your license, all the better."
"I love you," she says softly through her tears. "And I'm not just doing this for my license."
"I know, and I love you, too. Goddamn it." I groan. "I don't even have a ring. After all the shit I talked about that son of a bitch being too cheap to give you one."
"Don’t worry, our wedding bands are on the way. Hopefully. I called Jude and your dad."
"They're going to let them in?" I ask with a smile, and she nods.
“Logan had to pull a few strings to get us a license backdated so we can avoid the waiting period,” she tells me.
Five minutes later the six of us are squeezed into the small room.
"Congrats, bro," Jude says with a pat on my shoulder. "I did the best I could on short notice. I thought you might want to start with this one. You know, do it right."
He drops a small diamond ring into my cuffed hands.<
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"Thanks. Like always, I owe you," I tell him.
Going down to one knee in front of Page, I look up at her face that's filled with sadness. It's only temporary, so that'll be what gets me through it.
"Page Davenport, you know I'm a huge pain in the ass, but you also know that I love you and will do anything for you. So are you crazy enough to agree to marry me?"
"Yes," she says with a smile, and I slide the ring that's a little too big onto her finger.
"You two ready?" the magistrate asks.
"Yes," I tell him getting to my feet again.
"No, wait!" Page exclaims. "Shouldn't we do a pre-nup?" she turns to ask me, which I have to say pisses me off.
"I don't want your money, but I'll sign whatever you want," I assure her.
"No, silly. I meant for me to sign to protect your money," Page replies with a smile. "I barely have a penny to my name."
"Don't be ridiculous," I tell her.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
"You should automatically be awarded half of all his shit just for agreeing to marry the SOB," Jude says.
"I agree," I tell her, then to the magistrate, "Let's do this."
"Right. So do you, Jackson Malone, take Page Davenport to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others for all the days of your life?"
"Hell yes," I answer, making Page smile.
"And do you, Page Davenport, take Jackson Malone to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others for all the days of your life?"
"I do," she says softly.
"Rings?" he asks, and Jude hands them to the man.
"Jackson, place this ring on Page's hand, and, Page, place your ring on Jackson's as a symbol of your vow made to each other today, and for every day from this day forward."
I take the ring and with handcuffs still on, push it onto her finger. Then she slides the bigger one onto mine with a smile. I try to remember the weight of the metal, and how it looks on my hand, knowing the guards are going to take it away from me in a few minutes. After that I won't see my wedding band again for six fucking months.
"By the powers vested in me by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," he concludes. And just like that, I'm given a wife.
I loop my arms around Page again to pull her to me, kissing her softly at first, but quickly losing myself in her. After a few pats on the back the room empties, leaving us alone.
The moisture on my face tells me Page is crying again.
"Please stop crying," I tell her, resting my forehead on hers. "You're making me feel even worse seeing you so upset."
"I want you to go home with me," she sobs.
"Me, too, princess," I assure her. "I love you. Let me make love to you. Right here, right now because I may not get another chance for six months."
"I love you, too," she says. "Make love to me."
"Okay, but um, you're going to have to do all the prep work since I'm handcuffed."
At that Page starts sobbing again. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
"What are you talking about? Did you lie and say I raped you? No. That bitch did, and this is all her fault. Not yours. You did everything you could to help me. If it wasn't for you I know I'd have gotten a hell of a lot more time for this shit I didn't do."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Now take your panties off and pull my cock out, so I can finally get inside my new wife."
That makes her laugh, and she finally goes to work, reaching under her skirt to shimmy out of her panties.
"I don’t have any condoms," she says softly, reaching for the zipper on the orange jumpsuit. I've already realized that and knew how this was probably going to go down.
"I don’t need one," I tell her. "Are you okay with that? I promise I'll pull out before."
She nods and after freeing my cock she doesn't let go. She goes to her knees instead and covers me with her mouth. Ah, she's going to make me fucking beg.
"God, I love you woman. But if you don't stop…then your wedding night story…will be sorely lacking."
Getting to her feet she hops up on the small, dingy table, spreading her legs for me.
"Fuck. You deserve so much better than this."
"Jax? Shut up and make love to me. We don't have much time."
"Princess, we've got the rest of our lives," I tell her, moving between her thighs and leaning down her to kiss her lips. Her legs wrap around me, and after she sits up so I can put my restrained hands around her back, her arms snake around my neck, holding me to her. I slip inside of her gently and then our bodies rock together slowly while our tongues explore and tease.
It's heaven being in her without any barriers, but I know I have to be damn careful. I start to pull back but she stops me, holding me against her.
"Please, Jax...don't leave me."
Reaching up, she pulls my lips back down to hers and I can't hold back anymore. I claim her mouth desperately with my seeking tongue. It's an incredible feeling, knowing I'm going to fill her with my release. It's like I can't get deep enough inside of her or take her hard enough to show her how much I need her. I want to claim her body, claim all of her as mine, and only mine.
It's over too soon, and then Page is crying again, knowing we're going to have to say goodbye.
"Let Jude take care of you," I tell her while kissing her neck and every inch of her skin I can get to, while I still have the chance.
"What?" she asks between sniffles, holding me so tightly they'll have to pry her off of me.
"I don't want you to be alone while I'm in here. Go stay with him and my dad, at least until the media circus calms down. Let them take care of you and comfort you until I can."
The big heavy door comes open and I let Page go, so she can stand and pull her panties back up, while I zip the jumpsuit.
"All right, time's up," the deputy tells us.
"I love you, and I need you to toughen up and be my attorney now. Figure out if there's anything we can do to make this shorter, okay? Can you do that for me instead of wasting more tears?" I ask her.
"I'll try."
"Good. Don't worry about me, all right? I'm going to be fine. The only thing I'm worried about is you."
"Let's go," the officer says more forcefully.
Page's arms tighten giving me one last hug. I reluctantly, sadly extract myself from her, and head for the door.
"This shit worked out great for me, Page. If I hadn't been incarcerated, I wouldn't be married to you right now. That alone makes it all worth it, princess." After one last long look at her, I follow the guard out of the room. I can still hear her crying even after the thick metal door closes behind me.
Chapter Sixteen
Page
"Hey, sis, time to wake up."
I hear Jude's voice, and even though I hope yesterday had all been a dream, well most of it, I knew by his nickname that it hadn't. "I don't want to," I tell him, pulling the sheets back over my head. "Wake me up in six months."
"Now that's not the right attitude. I thought you'd be trying to get my brother out sooner than that."
"How Jude? How the hell am I supposed to do that?" I ask through the cotton layers.
"We hire a private investigator, or several," my real brother answers, causing me to jerk the covers off.
"Logan? W-what are you doing here?" I ask, finding him sitting on the couch across from the bed, eating a muffin in a ruffled dress shirt and pinstripe suit.
"Trying to help. I put a call in to an attorney I know in the area to give me a few PI referrals."
"What's a PI going to do?" I ask.
"Well, it'd be good if we could get the bitch to admit she made it all up, but what we really need right now is to find evidence to force Judge Bray to declare a mistrial."
"A mistrial?"
He nods "We're going to investigate all twelve jurors and hope one fucked up and talked about the case on Facebook or to a friend while it was going on."
"Oh. But why are you helping me?"
"Because you're my sister and you need it. Dad never should've given you this case-"
"I know."
"You did great, Page, don't get me wrong. But this case required a seasoned veteran in criminal defense."
"It's my fault he's in prison, isn't it?" I ask as the tears start again.
"I didn't say that, and I don't think that. All I'm saying is this was too much pressure for a newbie to handle. What's done is done. Maybe another attorney would've had a different outcome…probably not, though, because of those pictures. We've got to find out who put the marks on her. With a good PI, we might luck up and get what we need with that or the jurors."
I launch myself at my brother to hug him. "Thanks, Logie," I tell him, using the name I called him when I first started talking until I was probably thirteen. And then whenever I want to embarrass him.
"You know I hate that name, right?"
"That's why I use it," I joke finally, pulling away.
Glancing down at myself, well, I look like shit. I'm wearing one of Jax's Havoc tees that's all wrinkled and a pair of cotton shorts. My hair is such a mess I can actually feel the tangles, and yesterday's makeup is probably streaking down my face. I guess that's to be expected after losing my career and my husband in one night.
My husband.
It's still funny to say that word. But even in the light of day I don't regret our decision. There was another decision we made last night, and my logical self says even if the chances are slim since my period's due in a few days, it isn't too late for Plan B prevention. But my heart, well, it says it'll be okay either way, because I'm married to a man I love.
That reminds me of a call I need to make. "Can I borrow your phone?" I ask Logan, sitting down next to him on the sofa. I have no clue where my phone, purse or briefcase are.
"Yeah, sure," he says, handing it over. I pull up the number from his contacts.
"Logan, what's going on?" My dad answers, since I'm on his phone.
"Hi, Dad."
"Page? What the hell did you do?"