OUR UNLIKELY BABY

by Paula Cox

  “You’re my fix, Lena. You gonna give me feel whole or what?”

  Another roar of laughter emanated from the other room, and Lena closed her eyes as she pictured Milo taking the reins, Jax having to hang off to the side because of her. Had to be the last thing his father would have ever wanted for him, and after all that time scraping at Eric’s side…

  “Lena?”

  Her lids opened at the sight of his parted lips on the verge of her mouth, and Lena started to speak when he kissed her tenderly, his cock moving under her skirt and between her legs as pressed his palm into her back.

  “It’s nothing,” he said. “Let Milo have it.”

  “But, Jax, I---”

  “I just need you.”

  His kiss was as soft as his cock was hard, and Lena stretched up to take all of him in as she pulled the leather away and dug her nails into his broad back.

  “You always said you never wanted anyone else to touch me.”

  “Damn straight, Lena.”

  Jax’s kiss grew stronger as he pushed her to his cock. Lena’s heart bloomed her in her chest as their flesh mingled, and she raked her fingers down his cheeks and steadied his stare to hers.

  “Is it… does it make me bad that I wanted this to stop touching you?”

  Lena’s eyes drifted towards his fallen jacket, and he shook his head with a light laugh and pushed her back to the bed.

  “Maybe no new emblem,” he promised. “Let’s be normal, total run of the mill.”

  Jax throbbed inside her, and Lena arched her back as his cock started to flood her, his hot stream cooling and calming her fears when he twisted inside her and sent her senses reeling.

  “That’s not run of the mill, Jax.”

  “So points for surprising you,” he purred. “I can keep it up all night.”

  Lena summoned all of her strength and pushed him to his back. His pulse grew inside her, and Lena lifted her head to the ceiling as she reached between his legs, her hand desperate to push him deeper as his touch surrounded her breasts.

  “Keep it up forever,” she moaned. “I…”

  “Lena?”

  His throbs came to a halt as he reached for her hair and fondled her neck.

  “I gave it up, and I’ll keep giving it up if it gets me more of this.”

  His pulse resumed, and Lena’s tongue grew parched in the confines of her mouth as she nodded her head and fell into his chest.

  “And you’ll never regret it?” she asked.

  “Come on.”

  Jax pushed her back to the bed, his hips thumping against hers as he let loose his lust, his head falling into her breast as he wrapped her in his arms and kissed the fallen hair sticking to her soaked neck. Lena sighed as he kept swirling inside her, and even as she sighed when he slackened his pace and went soft, his flesh still lived inside her, and Lena ran her fingers down her arms and took his hands.

  “So this is what happens now?” she asked, a hint of hope in her voice. “You and me. We just settle down?”

  “You call this settling down?”

  He reached a place of encore, his cock throbbing into her cunt. Lena felt on the verge of applause when she started to grow drowsy from his treatment, and she would have hit the bed, losing all sense of time and space, when flipped her to her belly and looked up into her eyes.

  “Let me do this for you, Lena. Don’t you want a family?”

  She could hear Sully snoring through the wall, but Jax pushed his fingers under her chin and gave her no choice but to meet his gaze.

  “With me?”

  Lena started to nod when he pulled out and patted her cheek. He fell to his knees and softly took her hands.

  “Don’t got a ring,” he confessed. “Didn’t really know that this was where we’d end up.”

  He kissed her fingers tenderly, the curl of his kiss topping any band that he might ever produce, but he still held her hand close and lowered his lips to her wrist.

  “Lena, don’t look so scared.”

  Jax sat up and brought her body to his lap. She almost felt like Viv, tending to Artie’s wounds without knowing why he was at her side or where it would lead. But Lena knew. She knew she loved him.

  “You’ll really be happy with just me?” she asked.

  “Just you? Lena? Just you is all there is for me.”

  She nodded into his neck and kissed him again. Her stomach grumbled her under his hands, and she pulled away from him with a tiny laugh.

  “Is that a yes, Lena?”

  “I’ll tell you after breakfast,” she promised. “If we’re really hooked now, I think I need to eat.”

  “I’ll take care of you, Lena.”

  He stood with a contented sigh and extended his hand.

  “You liked the pasta? You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Deerfield took on a kinder air. Any bus making its way off the highway now had to see nothing but a sleepy hamlet dotted in trees just coming into view. Winter came and went, and with spring there were Silver Horses riding fast from corner to corner. The cops still kept their distance. But where an average civilian might have zigged when Eric Stiles zagged, Milo had another way of showing his hand. Violations were met with warnings when warranted, and the beatings only came when people dared to laugh at his show of benevolence. In time, those with brains knew better than to ever poke fun at Milo unless he was in on the joke, and a strange calm settled over the town.

  And Lena felt grateful to be on the right side of it.

  “Hold still.”

  Aggie had a mouth full of pins as she pushed a veil of lace into position, and when she seemed pleased with her efforts, she patted Lena’s cheek and smiled.

  “Think you’re good enough for him now,” she teased.

  “Hey! She always was.”

  Sully cleaned up nicely and smoothed the bowtie under his neck as he grabbed Lena’s hands and pulled back to stare at her.

  “How do I clean up, Uncle Tom?”

  “Like a dream,” he said. “Your mom would be proud.”

  “I would hope so,” she said. “And happy?”

  Sully nodded as he took her into his arms.

  “Watch the lace,” Aggie warned.

  He obliged and offered his arm with a wink.

  “Guess this means you’re not going back to school.”

  Her fingers met Sully’s sigh, and Lena shook her head.

  “There are schools closer to home,” she reminded him. “I’ll enroll once we set up house.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “Well that depends on---”

  “You ready, Lena?”

  Viv bounded forward with two bouquets of white roses resting in her hands. Lena took her flowers quickly and sighed against Sully.

  “Let’s say you just walk me to him right now.”

  He obliged with a kiss, and Viv led the way. Tuning the corner, Lena saw Black Legion’s former clubhouse swathed in white. From the tablecloths to the streamers pouring from the rafters, everything seemed new, especially Jax waiting at the end of a makeshift aisle with his mother at his side.

  “And this is really what you want?” Sully asked. Lena nodded and saw Viv shoot a quick glance in Artie’s direction. Had he known that one show of loyalty would bring him the promise of this? Lena’s delight nearly dragged her to the prospect of another wedding, but she dialed that joy back when Jax took her hand and smiled into her eyes.

  “You look good, Lena,” he said.

  “Keep saying that. I might marry you one of these days.”

  “Today, Lena. Has to be now.”

  She offered no objection as the officiant in a blue suit started listing off all the reasons why this might not be the best idea. But just as quickly, the man turned his talk to why they should link their lives here and now, and when Lena was asked the questions, she offered yes after yes until the moment came for the ring.

  “Artie?”

  The bald man r
eached into his pocket and produced two bands gold. Lena smiled, and she stretched to the tips of her toes and kissed his brow.

  “It’ll be for keeps,” she whispered. “Sure that’s what you want?”

  Jax nodded as he extended his hand.

  “I want you, Lena,” he swore. “Today.”

  She stared to offer her assent when the ring found its way around her finger. Lena looked down at the band and felt sure of herself as she took his hand and made the same move.

  “And always, Jax.”

  There were no objections as they were pronounced. As soon as the word was given, Jax pulled her into his arms, his kiss crushing against her mouth as the clubhouse burst into applause. Lena left his lips to smile at the others, and when she saw Artie offer Viv his arm for the march out, she got all kinds of ideas.

  “Now hold up a second.”

  The clapping stopped as Milo took control of the room and pulled Aggie away from Brutus’ side. Not wanting any darkness on this day above all others, Lena was ready to challenge him when Milo pressed a single finger to her lips.

  “I want to give his one everything she has coming her way.”

  If this were Eric, somehow allowing her to link her life to Jax’s, this was the moment when the other shoe was bound to fall, when the Big Boss would take his turn before the groom had a proper chance. It wasn’t Milo, it couldn’t be. But Lena still quivered as he pulled her close to his chest.

  “Isn’t every old lady who goes through the wringer like that.”

  Even Aggie nodded as Milo continued.

  “So I’m saying thank you. And here.”

  He wound his jacket around her shoulders, and Lena smiled widely at the feel of the leather covering her skin.

  “And you have my word that no one will ever mess with you again.”

  Lena smiled and flung her arms around Milo’s neck.

  “I’ll say thanks, too,” she said. “But someone else need to…”

  She eased her husband, the word bubbling in her brain as she took Jax’s arm, and turned his face to Milo’s.

  “Tell him you’re grateful,” she whispered.

  Jax tensed, and she could feel his need to fight and lay claim in spite of the ring on his finger. The last thing she wanted was for him was for him to scrape for some side of the mountain that Milo was sure to keep safe, and she reached for his ringed hand as Jax stepped from his side and stared into Milo’s dark eyes.

  “Any time things get hairy,” Jax promised. “I’ll have no problem if you need me.”

  “When, Kid,” Milo said as he slapped his back. “Might even call on both of you one day.”

  Hands clapped again, and Lena thanked Milo with a small smile as she pulled Jax into her arms.

  “But not tonight,” she said. “I want you all to myself.”

  Easier said than done when the room danced around them and the music hummed. Lena let Jax waltz her into a corner, and he took her face in his hands.

  “Did you mean it?” he asked.

  “Mean what?”

  “Do you just want me?”

  “Jax…”

  She had only wanted him from the moment she saw them, when they were children. His heroics in a stinking bathroom only turned her heart softer, and recent days put the point on it.

  “I want you,” she said. “I want to…”

  Lena teetered on the verge of an explosion and started to kiss him when she pulled back and shook her head.

  “Come with me”

  Probably the height of bad manners to leave a party in her honor, but Lena still abandoned the clubhouse. She smiled as the soles of her shoes pounded against the pavement, and looked up at him with a sly smile.

  “Jax, I---”

  “Jesus Christ. Just let me kiss you.”

  She offered no protest and moaned under his mouth, his lips only parting from hers so he could touch her veil.

  “It’s in the way,” Lena insisted. “Let me.”

  Pulling it from her hair like it was nothing of consequence, Lena fell into his kiss.

  “Better?” she asked.

  “I like seeing more of you.”

  His hands surrounded her breasts, and Lena moved to meet more of his touch when she suddenly pulled back and spied the bike over Jax’s shoulder.

  “Can we go for a ride?” she asked.

  “Now?”

  “You going to deny your wife her wish?”

  Kissing him again, she heard the party going on without them. No way she would let that linger indefinitely. But first she had to show him….

  “Come on, Jax. Let me hold you like this.”

  Jax kissed her at the edge of his bike and started to pull her back towards the party when she pressed her palms to his chest and shook her head.

  “Let’s ride. I want that almost more than anything.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  “In that dress?”

  Lena smiled shyly as she hiked of the tulle skirt and rested her fingers to his wrist.

  “Call it a jump start on the wedding night,” she teased. “I have to tell you something.”

  Jax glanced back at the reception, his shoulders starting to sag even as he took her into his arms.

  “We can’t just leave them like this,” he said. “After all this trouble---”

  “We’ll come back,” she promised as she kissed his neck and cuddled close to his chest. “Pretty sure Artie wants to slip the garter off my leg.”

  “After you toss the flowers to Viv.”

  Lena smiled as she nodded her head. Seemed logical that they would be next, and the way Milo looked at him at them put the point on the fact that the pair had their blessing. Artie would have to spend the rest of his life treading lightly, but to be with Viv almost made it a fair trade. Maybe Aggie and Brutus would fall into place next. Anything was possible.

  “I wouldn’t miss that,” she promised. “But right now…please?”

  Jax honored her request and lifted her onto his bike. As soon as he mounted before her, Lena winded her fingers against his chest, clasping him close as she sighed into his neck.

  “Take me away, Jax.”

  He pumped the pedals and took off towards the falling sun as Lena threw her head back and started to unwind the braid surrounding her crown. One lock after another hit the wind, and Lena drank in the air flashing across her face. Deerfield looked different now. No longer small and stifling, a place that she was desperate to break free of at the first chance. Mac Arnold’s joint seemed as good a place as any to grab a cup of coffee, and she dreamed of their children stepping into the high school without a care in the world. Would have been nice for them. But there was no way to turn back time.

  “This the spot?”

  And it was the time to move forward.

  As soon as the creek came into view, Lena let Jax lift her off the bike, and she melted into his arms. Before her heeled feet hit the ground, he brought her close for a kiss and twirled her hair around his fingers.

  “Did I tell you looked beautiful?” he asked.

  “I think so. But you can say it again.”

  He responded with a kiss, and Lena kicked off her shoes, sighing at the feel of her feet hitting the smooth grass as she rested her ear to his heart.

  “This works, too,” she said. “Come with me.”

  “I’m okay right here, Lena.”

  His hand reached under her skirt, and she smiled when he touched the silk between her legs.

  “I like it more when there’s nothing here,” he muttered.

  “Then tear it away,” Lena said. “I won’t mind.”

  Jax honored her request with the deed, and she savored the soft breeze running up her legs as the heat from his fingers rivaled he pulse of her pussy and the need to have him inside her.

  “Jax…”

  She was ready to fall to the grass and spread her legs, eager to accept all of him and feel his smile mirroring hers on the cusp of a kiss. But she had to bite back
her desire, if only for a few more moments.

  “Soon, Jax,” she promised. “But first…”