Chapter 20
Jules
T aking Vi by the hand I lead her out of the Rev Room. I’d love to have her in my arms again, but after months of getting to know her I know she won’t want to look weak in front of everyone. It seems crazy that a few months ago I was living my best life working and fucking to my heart’s content, and now, now I’m living a better life. One I didn’t realize I loved until it was almost ripped away from me yesterday.
We get to the room I use whenever I’m in the clubhouse and I lead Vi in. Shutting the door quietly behind us I turn her toward me, then run my hands up under her oversized shirt, careful of her bumps and bruises.
“Jules-”
“Shhh, let me take care of you.” I whisper, stopping any protest with a soft kiss to her lips.
She raises her arms as best she can with her sore ribs, and I work her shirt over her head, throwing it into the corner hamper to be burned. Who knows what she has on it after helping Dayz? I drop to my knees and gently tug on the stretchy waistband of her joggers, willfully ignoring the outline of her pussy behind her pink cotton panties. Her thighs touch and I can’t wait to have them pressing against my face sometime in the future. If she lets me, of course. I was an utter asshole, freaking out about what I was feeling for her, but no more. If it takes me weeks, months, fuck, even years to win her over, I’ll do it.
I toss her pants and panties into the corner, followed by her socks. I’ve never been a foot guy, but looking down at her cute blue tipped little toes I lean forward and press a light kiss to the top of each foot before pressing my forehead to her knee, gripping the back of her calves in my hands.
“Vi, fuck, I’m sorry for how I treated you. I, shit, I don’t know. I freaked out. I -”
“Jules?” I look up at her, her gaze shining down at me, her hands threading through my hair. “I don’t exactly know what’s going on with us so why don’t we put a hold on it, get cleaned up and sleep on it?”
My heart sinks and my head hangs. I fucked it up. I fucked it up so fucking badly. Pity party, table for one.
A soft snort sounds out, my head tipping back to look up at Vi’s smirk, “I’m not saying I don’t like what you were saying. I’m saying that in the past two days I’ve been dumped, been fucked to within an inch of my life by my boss, and been kidnapped.”
“It’s been a lot.”
“It’s been a fucking lot.”
I rub her calves then move to stand, so close that her bare breasts now rub the top of my abs. Saying nothing I remove my clothes, toss them into the pile, then taking Vi by the hand I lead her into the shower. I know she was freshly showered when she burst into the Rev Room, but I have a feeling she showered herself, not wanting anyone to help her. She may have let her mom, but little Flora was busy stabbing bad guys. I let out a snort and Vi gingerly turns her head to look at me.
“What’s so funny?”
“Did you know your mom came into the Rev Room and stabbed a guy in the leg?”
“She what!?” Vi screeches, staring at me in horror before her face morphs and she wraps her arms around herself, holding on tight as she laughs, the sound a fucking symphony. “Actually, I can believe that. Lemme guess. Dad waited outside and Moss had to pull her away?”
I grin down at her and she rolls her eyes, turning back to face the spray, letting it wash out the blood and lube and whatever other body fluid she came into contact with.
“I don’t have a problem with it, you know?” she says quietly.
“With what?”
“With who you are.” She turns her head to the side, speaking to me over her shoulder but not looking me in the eye, and I appreciate that at this moment. “I know you’re not comfortable with yourself a lot of the time. I pretty much guessed that you like to push stuff down, but you seem different now.”
I fist my hand, and clear my throat, “Yeah, almost losing you and Juno was a huge wake up call. Turns out pushing shit down can only last so long before it comes out in a fucking deluge.”
“Well, I liked the old Jules, even if he acted like a bossy dick sometimes. But this Jules, this Jules is someone I can see spending more time with, maybe watching movies with,” she raises her dark eyes up to mine, a small smile playing on her lips .
“Maybe dance with?” I hedge.
“Maybe,” she shrugs, and I can see by the rise in her cheeks that she’s smiling.
“Does that mean my bad behavior is forgiven?”
“Hell no! You’re definitely going to pay for ruining my afterglow by freaking out. I will require dates. Both with you and Juno, and alone. Oh, and you’ll volunteer to be a life model for my sister’s class. On three occasions.”
I turn off the water, leaning out to grab a fluffy towel, moving to wrap it around Vi, tugging the ends in, leaving her beautiful, but damn battered face exposed. “Deal.”
She beams, her good eye almost closing, and where I would feel rage at this, I feel gratitude that I’m getting a second chance. I press a kiss to her forehead, then her temple, then her lips, and then, because we’re alone, I scoop her up and move her to the bedroom, gently placing her down, her dark hair splayed over the pillow.
I pull on some boxer shorts, knowing that I need to keep my cock under control. She’ll hurt even more in the morning, and I’m not going to do anything to make her even vaguely uncomfortable, so the dick, he’s going away, locked up tight behind fabric. I settle into the bed, pull the covers over both of us and maneuver myself until I’m pressed as close as I can get to my Firecracker without hurting her.
“Jules?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for coming to get me. I always knew you would.”
“Anytime and everytime, Vi. ”
Violet
I roll over and wince a little, yesterday’s memories rushing back.
“Ugggghhhhhh,” not caring how loud or long it is.
“Bit stiff there Firecracker?” Jules asks, standing in the doorway with Juno on his hip, her little dark head topped with a ginormous bow.
I widen my eyes, glad that ice, ibuprofen and arnica have done their job. I can open both eyes now, so both are staring at Juno, a bow sitting on a jaunty angle on her head, and her trademark frown.
“What the hell is on her head?”
“Cove and Jovie bought Rosie and Juno one each so they can all match.”
I stare at it a little longer, “It is kinda cute. In a slightly scary way.”
“It keeps tickling my nose and I keep sneezing on her,”
As if on cue Juno moves her head, the bow brushing Jules’ nose. He lets out a terrifyingly loud Dad sneeze, causing Juno to burst out into giggles.
“That’s the only upside. Juno thinks it’s funny,” he says as he jiggles her in the air over his head. She laughs again and he makes his way to the bed, softly sitting down, so as not to jar my sore body too much. “Morning, babe,” he leans forward, giving me a sweet kiss on my lips.
“Babe, huh? So, ah, we’re really doing this and it’s not just a trauma response to what happened yesterday?” I look at him with a belly full of butterflies.
I mean, this man, this super hot, stupidly gorgeous man wants to be with me. Me. It’s freaking nuts.
Jules leans back and lets out a sigh, looking at Juno for a moment, who beams up at him. He turns his dark gaze back to me, clearing his throat. “I’m going to say something that might scare you. I hope you take what I say as something I have thought deeply about, and it’s not just because we fucked or because I thought I had lost you. OK?”
I eye him, not having any clue where he’s going with this. “Ooookay,” I agree.
“I’ve never felt anything like this for anyone outside of my family. The feeling is… big. So big that when I was with you, really with you, I felt like I was drowning. I pushed the big feeling down and pushed you away because I’m a dumbass.” He inhales deeply then in one breath blurts, “Iloveyou.”
His large palm gently covers my mouth before I can reply. “Don’t say anything yet. I didn’t tell you that to force you into saying it back, I just wanted you to know that’s how I feel.” He frowns.
I sit there, wide eyed staring at him, and I’m certain the kidnapping has broken him. Well, maybe not broken him , more like broke down his walls.
“I want you to join mine and Juno’s family. But I don’t want you to say it if you don’t feel the same. I’ll understand if you don’t.” He slowly removes his hand from my mouth and I shimmy to sit myself up. Important discussions like this have to be done with both parties sitting up, at least.
“Jules, we may not have seen eye to eye to begin with, but over the past few months I’ve gotten to know you. The real you. The version that you hid from everyone else. I knew you had it in you to feel deeply and intensely, but I never thought I would ever get to see it. ”
He stares at me and when I open my mouth to say the words, the words I’ve been feeling underneath all the emotions he brings out in me, he covers my mouth again.
“Don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it until you know. Completely.”
I frown at him and he laughs, jiggling Juno who copies her daddy and laughs too.
“Fine. But mark my words, it’s coming,” I threaten.
He leans forward, giving me a quick peck before Juno can get her hands into my hair. “I’ll give you a week and then we’ll both be coming.” He winks as he leans back and my panties combust with a heat so intense I’m sure it’s probably singed my pubic hair clean off.
“Mamama.”
Jules and I freeze and stare at one another.
“Mamamamama,” Juno continues to babble.
“Did she just?” I ask, shocked and delighted and on the verge of bursting into tears.
“Fuck! I think she did!” Jules says, holding his daughter up, staring at her like she’s Einstein.
Her chubby legs kick as she squeals, “Dada.”
“What the fuck!” Jules yelps, holding Juno up even higher, staring at her in wonder.
“Dada,” Juno’s cute little voice rings out loud and clear.
“That’s right, I’m your Dada,” Jules voice is thick with emotion, tears in his eyes as he looks at me.
Leaning forward I rest my head on his shoulder, gripping Juno’s hand as she babbles “Mama” and “Dada” and my heart is full. Who knew that when my mother fired me I’d fall in love with a little girl, lose a boyfriend but gain a good man who loves me. The only thing marring that experience would be being kidnapped with a truck load of kids.
“Hey, what happened with the info Chewy found out last night? I ask, wanting to make sure that nasty bitch Candice Rogers is going down.
Jules swings his legs up onto the bed, maneuvering himself so he’s leaning against the headboard, the left side of his body pressed against mine. He places Juno between his legs and she lays there, kicking and blowing raspberries at her feet. I lift his left arm, slipping my head under so I can lean against his hard pec.
“The kids spent the night in the ER for observation, and their parents were found and contacted. The Landry’s contacts are working alongside the FBI in getting the women back home.” He swallows, then continues, “Dayz found out that Candice is just a small link in the chain. In the state of Texas she’s a huge trafficker, but she’s part of a larger group of scumbags.”
“So we didn’t shut down anything?” I slump, taking one of Juno’s feet in my hands, leaning forward to blow a raspberry on her foot, leaving her giggling and squirmy.
“Yes and no. Happy Values is finished. The employees are being questioned by the FBI and they have APB’s out for Candice, as well as alerts at all the airports.”
“I guess that’s good then,” I say, the disappointment surprising me. It seems after a night in the Rev Room that I’ve gotten a taste for making people pay for their crimes. Candice is on my shit list and I want her taken care of.
“The guy yanking the chain is who we’re going to focus on looking for in the immediate future. We don’t want any nasty surprises if we bring Candice in.”
“Fair enough. But you better let me know when you and the team have her. I have things I want to say to her. ”
Jules side eyes me as if he knows that I’m talking shit. My stomach rumbles causing Juno to make a weird growling noise in reply.
“Looks like it’s time to feed my girls,” Jules says, his lips lifting at the corners, “Come on little Miss Grumpy Face,”
I stay sitting in bed, watching that hot hunk of man move to stand, baby in his arms.
“I was talking to you, Firecracker,” he winks. I flip him the bird and gingerly get out of bed, stretching this way and that to loosen things up.
“Get dressed, babe and I’ll go get your breakfast set up.” He drops a kiss to the top of my head and leaves the room, his resting bitch face back in place with Juno frowning at me over his shoulder, but still giving me a wave on the way out.
I chuckle to myself as I move to find some clean clothes, taking them into the bathroom to freshen up. Looking in the mirror I gasp so hard I choke on my own saliva, coughing like I’m dying and moaning with every cough as it jars my ribs.
“Oh my god you look terrible!” Jazz gasps, falling backwards onto the bed.
“Ignore her, you look beautiful as ever, just a little bruised,” Lil says because she’s the not evil sister.
“ Mija ! My baby!” my mom wails, coming at me with outstretched hands, moving to cup my face but Dad beats her to it, pulling me into his warm arms.
“Thanks Dad.” I snuggle into him, ignoring Mom slapping Dad’s arms to get him to move.
Dad lets out a sigh and releases me where I’m roughly scooped into my mother’s arms, her strong hand forcing my head down to rest on her boob.
“My girl, my beautiful baby girl.” She holds me at arm’s length, getting a good look at me before grinning, “I stabbed the man that took you!”
“I heard, Mom. You were very badass,”
“That’s right. I’m thinking of getting a motorcycle. Maybe DRMC will let me join!” She bustles off out the door, all our eyes following her.
Dad lets out a long suffering sigh, before following in Mom’s wake.
“Soooooo,” Jazz says, waggling her brows at me as I pull on my soft pants.
“So, what?”
“So, we heard what Jules said to you. That man loooooves you! Are you going to move in with him and make more cute babies?” Lil asks, lying on her stomach on the bed, her chin propped up on her hands.
“Maybe. But, like, isn’t it too fast? I had a completely different boyfriend two days ago! Then me and Jules slept together and he got all weird about it. He’s my boss! And sometimes he’s stubborn and it pisses me off. And then last night he took care of me and actually talked about his feelings and said sweet things and I don’t know! He can be such an asshole and then such a sweetheart. Ugh.” I throw my hands up and then regret the movement.
Jazz eyes me. “You do know there’s a very fine line between love and hate, right? Let me ask you this: Even though Jules can be a rude dick, in the times he wasn’t like that, did you have fun?”
I think back to the dinners we shared or the lunches where Juno and I would visit Jules in his office. “Yeah, I did have fun. He’s thoughtful and comfortable to be around and we had good conversations.” I shrug .
“OK, and when you were taken, who did you have faith in to find you?”
“Jules.” Without a doubt.
“And when you think of him what do you feel?” Lil asks softly.
I think about how I feel when he walks into a room. When he laughs at my jokes or frowns at my teasing or does that little smile thing when our eyes meet. “I feel everything,” I whisper.
“There it is then,” Jazz says with a decisive nod.
“Nothing is too fast, Lettie. Mom and Dad only knew each other for two weeks before they got married and I’ve never seen two people more in love,” Lil says. “Apart from the couples here at the MC.”
“They’re sickeningly in love,” Jazz says.
“We heard that!” Blanche’s voice booms down the hall.
“She’s pregnant, between the three of us, we can take her,” I say loudly enough so she can hear me.
“Bring it on!” she yells back.
“You sure about joining the Tombs family?” Jazz asks, peering down the hall.
“Second to our family, I couldn’t think of a better family to be a part of.”