"Get out of my way." Lola seethed and slammed her shoulder into Jax's as she passed him. The door was slammed shut in front of her face and Jax stood leaning against it.
"Lola, listen to me." He said calmly.
The chill grabbed her ankles and moved up her legs.
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say." She said.
She scanned his face and not a single muscle was moving. It didn't feel like it was Jax's eyes that she was looking into.
He nodded and moved slowly over the carpet to his desk. His fingers tapped against the table, he flicked his tongue and grabbed a piece of paper. Lola's stared at the white sheet folded over.
It was the note that Ash had taken from her.
"Then maybe we can talk about this," he said and held it up.
The mask plastered over his face left his eyes void of any emotion.
"That's mine, I would like it back please," Lola said and stepped closer. Each step was heavier than the last and it pained her to hear him in this state. He wasn't himself right now and this was the first time in over a week that they'd seen each other. They should be kissing, curled up on the couch drinking wine like the Cliftons. Or maybe that wasn't in the stars for them.
"He knows now," Jax said darkly.
"I know." She answered. He shook his head slowly back and forth.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Lola gasped and her feet stopped moving.
The anger rose and heated her body.
"What I have done?" She seethed. "You abandoned me. The two times when all I wanted to see was your face, you sent your cousin. Ash was there to help me with Margret and he was in school with me today- the day after we found out about Clarissa's death. It should've been you but it wasn't because something else was more important. So you can take that judgy look in your eyes and shove it. I don't give a damn that Ash knows now, Jax!"
She moved closer and ripped the note from between Jax's fingers.
"I don't care if he screams it over town or if he calls on the vampires to come get me! I don't give a shit about any of it because all I wanted was for you to be present but you weren't," her shoulders slumped and the anger washed away when she vented.
A small laugh peeled from her in shocking waves and she felt so dumb for believing that they had something more than a contract, all because he said that they did- and people never lie, right?
Lola turned the note and read it.
'Lola Graves, don't you find it odd how there has never been mention of a cure against a vampire bite on a werewolf? Now that lovely girl carries your blood in her veins and suddenly she's all healed. I can tell you more, I can tell you everything about who you are. I've seen you, I know you, you're being watched by eyes you won't ever see. Come to me and learn the truth or stay and be responsible for the countless lives you will never be able to save'
She was tired, her body hung heavy like a pool of lead and she had the vision of Clarisa's shrine in her mind.
"You know what," she whispered tirelessly.
"Since everybody already knows, I think I'll show this to your mother," Lola said and met Jax's gaze. His face finally moved, his lips turned down in fear and his eyes fell deep.
He moved fast and stood in front of her.
"No, you won't." He warned and ripped the note from her hands.
"Give it back." She seethed and reached for the paper. He held it away and grabbed her arm. Jax swiftly pulled Lola closer so she slammed into his chest and held her as she tried to break free.
Lola's hair fell in front of her face and pearls of sweat formed on her forehead when she fought against his grip. Jax held her close, pressing her against his chest and waiting for her to calm down.
"I'm sorry, hey- hey look at me." He said and tilted her head back.
"I'm sorry I haven't been there." He said. Lola turned her head to the side.
"That makes it all better than," she scoffed and shook her head at his sad attempt at an apology.
"I've been working, Lola," she pushed at his chest but he wouldn't budge.
"I get it! You've been working and staying way too busy to reply with a text or a visit. I'm sorry, Jax, that I thought this was anything more than the business agreement that you swore it wasn't. I know better now so let me go!" He grabbed her chin and lifted her head.
"What did you say?" His eyes darkened and her scent filled his nostrils making his legs weak but Jax refused to be tempted.
He looked into her eyes and saw nothing but emptiness and sadness.
"Lola you're not a contract," he said calmly but his voice had that edge that said he was walking a thin line between primal rage and human control.
"You don't have to do that- give me false hope. I'm here, I'm yours and I'm not going anywhere so at least have the decency to be honest with me." She laughed and licked her lips, biting as she stared at him. "We slept together, you got what you wanted from this marriage."
"Is that really what you think of me?" He asked as the pain grew and began to tip him over the edge of the line.
"Considering the fact that I haven't seen you since...yes," Lola said with a pout.
Jax dropped the note and cupped her face with both hands.
"Lola, I promise-"
"Shh," she interrupted and shook her head. "I no longer care." She said.
"First of all-" he said as his eyes turned black. "-don't ever shush me again." He warned and turned around with Lola still in his grip. He walked her back. "Second of all-" he grabbed her waist and lifted her up on the desk. Jax spread her legs and stood in between. His hand went up her thigh before it snaked around her back. He grabbed her neck and gently stroked her skin with his thumb.
"Do not ever try to understand my reasons for doing what I do. All of it, by the way, has to do with you." His voice was husky and dark as the words fell from his lips.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled back. Lola gasped, her hands moved back on the desk and she arched her back.
"I spend every second of every day thinking about you," he pressed his lips on her neck. His hand went under her shirt and he dragged his hand over her smooth skin.
"I can't sleep so I stay in the study-" he kissed down her chest and Lola arched up further.
"-and I work until my eyes burn and my head falls on the papers." He lifted her up in a swift pull and his fingers wrapped around her breast.
"Because all I can't think about is how useless I will be in the face of the many threats that will come for you." He said, his voice edging into rage.
The rage wasn't directed at Lola, it was for everything Jax saw each time he closed his eyes.
"So no, I didn't stay away because I got what I wanted from fucking you. I stay away because I intend on keeping what I have for the rest of my life and that won't happen unless I find a way to protect you." Lola turned her head. The desk was filled with papers, maps, and drawings of patterns she had never seen before. There were printed papers with information about the story of the Doe and the origin of the story.
Folklore & Mysticism was the title of one of the papers and it was several pages long.
"What have you been up to?" She whispered and dragged her fingers over the papers to see what else was underneath.
Jax turned her around, grabbed the back of her neck, and forced her gaze to lock with his.
"Learning more about you," he whispered and leaned in. Lola parted her lips and met him halfway.
The kiss grew intense, both of them yearning for closeness and the warm touch that only the other could give.
Lola's feet touched against the floor and she stepped up on her toes and deepened the kiss. Her tongue slipped between Jax's lips and he welcomed her taste.
His grip around her neck hardened and he drew a breath, catching her scent and allowing it to fill him.
Jax spun her around and pressed her back against him.
His hand came around her throat and he claimed her lips as she panted.
"Do you trust me?" He asked.
Lola answered against his lips, her breath heavy and warm. "I want to," she said. Jax smiled, he dragged his hand down her front and undid her pants.
"Good, because you and I are going on an adventure." He said. Lola's head fell back against his chest when his hand dipped between her legs.