19. Jax

Chapter 19

Jax

T here was a reason Jax didn't like people. It was what he was used to, growing up in a single room with little interaction from others. His mother had tried, but her disappointment at his lack of celestrial heritage had grown into resentment. It wasn't long before she barely acknowledged him, feeding him enough to survive, but that was it. There was no affection, or even communication. Nothing but silence. So, he became the ghost she'd treated him as – a shadow in the corner.

It hadn't taken him long to grow cold, a child who no longer reacted with anger or dejection when his mother treated him like he didn't even exist. To not feel. But he became harder to ignore as he grew, and after he was attacked by a hellhound she'd signed over her parental rights to the Order.

They'd nicknamed him the Mute due his preference for silence, and if it wasn't for the other kids that he'd trained beside, he'd have likely remained as a ghost. Someone numb. Forgotten.

It was his brothers that forced him to live, but that didn't mean Jax had to like people .

The smoking terrace beside Blacklight was so full they were shoulder to shoulder. Lights hung overhead, suspended from a pole connecting to the side of the warehouse. Insects buzzed angrily around the only source of illumination, somehow not suffocating from the smoke floating from the crowd.

Jax leaned against the brick wall opposite, eyes constantly scanning the surrounding area. The nightclub was tucked between other warehouse buildings, all dark after hours and locked up tight. Exceedingly tall metal fences topped with barbed wire surrounded them, leaving only Blacklight and the attached carpark open to the public. A bouncer waited by the metal door, his own cigarette glowing orange as he checked IDs before raising the velvet rope. Music vibrated the concrete, a techno beat that Jax already knew he'd hate.

Rubbing his thumb against the slim bands in his pocket, Jax waited. He'd made them from solid gold, carving the metal with intricate detail. Hours it had taken him to create the design. Hours in which he forced his attention on his work, rather than hunting down Thea. It had taken all his control not to track her, to give her space. So, instead, he'd thrown himself into creating something just for her. Bands, ones that will lock around her delicate wrist without a key. Ones only he could take off.

Straightening from the wall, he watched her walk from the row of black cabs, the moon highlighting her high cheekbones and slim nose. Her eyes were encircled in black, with little flicks at the sides that seemed to make them appear even larger. She spotted him then, stopping at the edge of the road with a cocked hip. He took his time to take in her body, allowing himself to memorise every curve.

She wore a tight black dress, like a tube from her breasts to her thighs. The black brought out the beautiful sheen in her pale skin, but still he found he missed the rainbow. Other than her tattoos, the only colour she wore was her hair, which was such a pale pink it was edging on her natural silver.

"Well, are you coming then?" she called across, her lips lifting into a genuine smile.

Jax crossed the street, his strides silent as Thea subtly stiffened. He felt an ache beneath his ribs, and at first he thought it was fear that had flashed across her eyes, but it was something else. Something he didn't catch in time before her smile turned into a full grin.

"Don't you clean up nice," she said, purposely dragging her eyes from his black boots, up his black jeans, to his black T-shirt. It wasn't much different from what he usually wore, except he had no visible weapons.

"Hmm," he hummed, enjoying her eyes on him. "Where's the pixie?"

"Probably back at my place by now. I couldn't just get rid of him. I feel bad."

"You can't keep him."

Thea flicked her hair behind her shoulder. "I'm aware he's not a pet, you know."

Jax reached over to grab one of her wrists, and before she could react, he snapped the first band on.

Thea gasped, yanking her arm back. "Jax, what the fuck?"

While distracted, he snapped the second band onto her other wrist.

"Seriously!" She tried to pull them off, her fingers brushing over the metal, trying to locate a latch she would never find. The bands were entirely smooth, around two centimetres wide, and designed to look as if it were a solid piece. "They're burning me! "

"No, they're not. The gold's coated to protect your skin."

Her lips snapped open, eyes widening. "They're too tight."

"A gift for a gift," he said, jerking his brow. "It's only fair."

Thea wrinkled her nose, glaring at the bands that looked perfect against her skin. He'd made sure they were as delicate as her, slim in design and matching the gold septum ring and earrings she usually wore. Fae couldn't usually wear metal, but it hadn't taken him long to research ways to coat the gold.

"How do I take them off?" she asked.

"You don't."

"What do you mean, you don't?" She eyed the bands as if they were snakes. "I can't wear these forever."

"Only I can take them off."

She let out a sound like a hiss, her lips pouting as her brows creased together. "Do you know what? I don't feel as bad as offering you as a date now."

Jax frowned. A date?

He could tell she fought a smile, despite her frustration still evident in the tension along her shoulders. "You said you were sure I'd come up with something, and you were right."

Jax growled, and her eyes glittered. Fuck. She was going to destroy him, because all he wanted to do was mark her as his. The bands would do for now, because he wanted people to see how fucking beautiful she was. How untouchable. His.

"This isn't over," she growled, shaking her wrists at him. "If I have to cut them off, I will."

Jax wanted to smile, a warmth spreading through his chest as he watched her. "Who are we meeting?" he asked, guiding her toward the front entrance. The bouncer didn't bother asking them for IDs, his attention lingering on Thea long enough that Jax actually smirked when she finally met his eyes.

The bouncer quickly looked away, which only made Jax puff out a single laugh.

Thea turned at the sound, frowning up at him. "Your date hasn't arrived yet," she said, reaching up to speak over the music. "I need a drink."

Jax grabbed her arm as she went to move toward the bar. "Stay by me."

He needed to check out the room and make sure it was secure.

Thea laughed, reaching up to pat him on the jaw. "See," she said with a smile, "small dick energy." Freeing her arm, she spun, heading toward the brightly coloured bar against the south wall. He tracked her as she pressed her body through the gyrating crowd, the lights above changing between white and UV every few minutes.

Jax fucking hated it.

Unlike for Thea, the crowd parted instinctively as he made his way through. They'd stumble out his way, and if they didn't move quick enough, he'd simply nudge them to the side. The lights above changed, and Jax blinked through the overstimulation as he searched for the exits, noting them before memorising the layout. The club consisted of two floors, the main dancefloor, bar area, three unisex toilets, as well as a mezzanine that seemed even busier.

Thea wasn't hard to spot in the crowd once he was finished, his beast attuned to her aura like a fucking drug. She glowed even amongst the sea of dancers, her smile infectious as she laughed at something that didn't carry above the music.

Her head was thrown back, teeth bright as the lights changed to UV. His rainbow girl was a magnet that radiated such sunshine that he was sure she'd burn him, but he didn't give a fuck.

Thea turned as he approached, her smile stretching her face. The guy that had made her laugh turned, paling at Jax's expression before returning to the dancefloor.

"You didn't have to scare him off," Thea said with a scowl. "He was only saying hi."

Jax didn't comment, instead sitting beside her at the table. He stretched his legs, amused at the cocktail she immediately pushed in front of him. It wasn't as pink as hers, but it was still a radioactive colour that glowed beneath the lights.

Ten minutes passed, his drink untouched while hers was empty. Without a word, he swapped their glasses, his attention on the crowd as she curved her hands around the stem of the glass.

Thea vibrated in her seat, rocking her body gently to the heavy beat while nibbling the little paper straw. "I know you have this whole, hot, silent type thing going on," she said, taking a sip of his drink. "But you're normally more talkative."

He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "There's comfort in silence."

She scoffed. "No, there's not."

"I don't enjoy small talk." Or gossip, or anything that didn't have a purpose.

"I don't enjoy silence." Flicking her hair back, she pushed the strands behind her ears.

"We're in a nightclub, there isn't silence." The music was so loud he could feel it in his teeth.

Thea narrowed her eyes, and he sighed.

"Fine," he rumbled, crossing his arms. "Why the dress?"

"Dress? "

"Black." His eyes purposely dipped to the dark fabric, then back up. "It's not yours."

"Oh!" Red teased across her cheekbones, matching the tips of her ears. "Why do you think it's not mine?" She tugged at the hem, which showed the majority of her creamy, tattooed thighs.

Jax leaned down, making sure his lips brushed across her ear. "Because, little thief, you're my rainbow girl."

"I'm not your anything." Thea swallowed, a roll of her throat that drew his attention to the delicate skin. His beast pressed against his mind, wanting to feel how soft it was against his palm. He almost gave into the compulsion.

He knew what she saw on his face: hunger, frustration, and need. None of which he could give into just yet. Her brown eyes had darkened, emphasising the copper specs.Thea blinked, the colour on her cheekbones darkening further as she licked along her bottom lip. "Grey will be here soon."

Jax didn't need to respond, so he didn't. But he enjoyed her reaction, her breath quickening. Pulse reacting to his presence.

She was the first to break the tension, turning back to the dancers, only to stiffen.

The colour drained from her face, and Jax turned to scan the crowd. It wasn't hard, not when he found a man standing by the bar opposite, staring. A woman hung from his arm, beautiful in the traditional sense. But he seemed to only be looking at Thea.

"Grey?" Jax asked, tensing as if to stand.

Thea lifted the drink, downing the rest. "No, that's… he's no one."

Jax didn't need to look to know the man was still staring. "Thea… "

"Fine," she grumbled, the sound gentle. "That's Leighton, my ex."

"Ex?"

Thea looked up at him, lashes lowered to hide her expression. "I take it back, go back to being silent."

"Why is he your ex?" he asked, closing the distance until they were hip to hip on the bench. She'd chosen a table tucked in the corner, the surrounding people immersed in their own conversations. No one paid them any attention, other than her ex.

Thea's hands trembled slightly, and it was the first time he'd seen her look so vulnerable.

"He told me I was emotionally unavailable, that I was too busy with my dad to give him the attention he deserved. Which, looking back, is pretty funny considering he was so busy sticking his dick in other girls."

Jax stilled, taking his time to answer. "Want me to kill him?"

"No." Her lips quirked back into their usual smile. "He's not worth jail time."

"Who said I'd be caught?"

Thea laughed. "I don't want to give him any more of my time. It's wasted energy hating someone."

"How can you be so positive all the time?"

"How can you not be?" she countered, her smile soft when she looked up at him.

Jax turned back to the bar, finding Leighton still standing there, watching with his jaw clenched. His eyes burned when they met Jax's, the jealousy evident despite the woman dancing and laughing against him.

"I won't allow him to ruin my life," Thea continued, oblivious. "He can stick his dick in anyone he wants for all I care."

"Hmm." Jax didn't drop the eye contact from Leighton, pulling Thea gently until she sat on his lap with her facing forward. The table jerked slightly, one of the empty glasses toppling as they fit snugly behind it.

"What do you think you're doing?" Thea stiffened, but didn't scramble away as his hand reached up to collar the front of her throat.

"I don't think he's over you," Jax said, his hand tightening hard enough for her to gasp.

Thea's body softened as he turned her head gently, forcing her to look. Even across the room, Leighton continued to watch, his features darkening with irritation.

"I don't care about him," she said, her voice husky.

"Hmm. What would you do if I spread your pretty thighs and devoured you until you came against my tongue?" Jax nuzzled his nose along her cheek, sinking into her scent. "Would you stop me?"

Thea's breathing hitched, and with his free hand, he reached down to tug at the hem of her dress.

"What if I slipped your thong to the side, right here, in front of him, and impaled you on my cock?"

"Jax," she whispered, her hand settling over his.

"Is he watching?" he asked, and she nodded. Just a single dip of her head. "Good."

Moving slowly, Jax tugged up more of her dress, her nails digging into his skin – encouraging, rather than hindering. Jax paused, his thumb moving in lazy circles as he waited for her to relax.

"Spread your legs for me," he said, her skin soft as she gently followed his command. "Good girl."

Thea swallowed, the motion rolling against his palm.

Inch by inch her thighs were revealed, her body trembling as the anticipation grew.

It seemed for once she was speechless, allowing him to take control .

"So beautiful," he rasped, brushing the soft skin of her inner thighs. "Imagine me bending you over this table, the entire club watching how well you can take me."

Thea groaned beneath his palm, her nails digging harder into his hand as if urging him further. Jax smirked, enjoying the biting pain, as she impatiently wiggled against his growing erection.

"So, my rainbow girl likes that idea." His thumb teased her in slow circles, getting closer and closer to the heat in-between. "Is your cunt wet for me?"

She gasped, head rolling back before he tightened the hand at her throat, making sure she remained facing forward. He moved lazily, her breath hitching every time he brushed against the damp fabric. He couldn't see the lace from his position, but he knew it would be brightly coloured. A reflection of her.

"Definitely wet," he growled, dropping his voice until she shivered. "Tip your hips for me, little thief." She did as he ordered, giving him easier access to the place he craved to taste. To take. To fucking ruin for everyone else.

He slipped his first finger beneath the lace, groaning at how wet she was. She was fucking soaking as he found her clit, circling around it without touching. Thea stiffened, her hips chasing his touch. She whimpered, and he made sure she continued to face her ex, to show him who she belonged to.

"He wants to be me right now," he whispered, maintaining eye contact with Leighton as he entered her with his middle finger. "But you're mine."