Nervous but excited, Jesse stood in front of Jax as he helped adjust the strap of the spare helmet he had bought with him.
“Have you ever been on a bike?”
Jesse shook her head.
“No, never.”
He must have heard the nerves in her voice because he paused what he was doing to looked up at her.
“You’ll be safe with me, I promise,” the words were firm, confident. “All you need to do is hold on to me, arms around my waist, and don’t worry too much about leaning with or against the turns. Just relax and let me handle everything. Okay?”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“And no matter what, know that I’ve got you.” He said when he finished with the strap, his hands cupping her jean covered shoulders.
Jesse could only nod. The intensity behind his words had her thinking that he was talking about more than just this ride but she was still in the middle of three nervous breakdowns. There wasn’t enough head space available to decipher his words.
“Good. Then let’s get going.” He swung his leg over the bike, settling his weight down before he started it. He held a gloved hand out to her. “Put your one foot there - no, the other one - perfect, and then swing your other leg over the back.”
Scooting in close, Jesse wrapped her arms around his waist and locked her hands together.
“Perfect.” He gave her hands a comforting pat before leaning forward. Seconds later, they were on the road and Jesse forgot all about being nervous.
She was flying.
Well, not really, but the smooth way he handled the bike and the rush of air pushing at her jacket gave her a certain sense of freedom.
It was exhilarating.
Not to mention, every time he stopped, he would touch her leg. Either cupping her calf or resting his hand on her knee, his fingers playing through the frayed hole at her knee. It kept her attention firmly on him. On how solid he was and the shift of his muscles when he confidently weaved through traffic.
Then she realized how the vibration of the bike hit her just right when he moved in a certain way.
She loved it.
Little licks of pleasure that lapped at her pussy.
Was riding on a motorbike a kink? If it wasn’t, Jesse was going to find out who she needed to email to make sure it got added to the lists.
Trying not to squirm around too much, she was all too thankful when they finally stopped in the parking area just outside the festival grounds. Once Jax parked the bike, he held out a hand to help her off.
Legs shaking slightly, Jesse took a moment to look around.
It had been years since she has been at any kind of festival. She had forgotten how excitement seemed to buzz through the moving crowds. Laughter, happy screams, and energetic shouts came from all around, almost drowning out the lively music playing in the distance.
She lifted the helmet off her head and smoothed her hand over her plaited hair.
“Ready?” Jax asked beside her, his arm curved around her shoulders to pull her into the shelter of his body. He had a wide grin on his face, and Jesse smiled at the electric energy he exuded.
“Definitely.”
“Beer or nachos first?”
“Maybe a beer, then nachos?”
“Perfect. Let’s go see what they have going on.”
He easily guided them through the throngs of people. It was slow moving but Jesse appreciated it more as it gave her time to step out of her head and enjoy where she was and who she was with. Her shoulders relaxed away from her ears and her spine straightened as curiosity had her head swinging back and forth.
Jax moved his arm down her back until he could grasp her hand. His smile was wide and Jesse could easily tell that he was happy to be there with her.
She could always tell how he was feeling, she realized with a sudden jolt. His expressions and mannerism were completely open to her. Even the way he spoke to her was without artifice which helped put her at ease around him.
It was a refreshing change to what she was used to.
The sound of someone calling Jax had them pausing a few steps inside the beer tent. A hand above the crowd drew their attention to a group of five people a few tables down. Three men and two women, wearing retro-punk style clothes which perfectly suited the bright festival around them. All of them with wide grins as the one who caught their attention stood up.
“Tanner, it’s good to see you, man.” Jax let Jesse go when they reached the table to greet his friends with some handshakes and hugs.
“I knew it was you! Come join us!” Tanner offered as everyone started shifting around to make space for the two of them.
“Thanks,” Jax pulled Jesse forward until she was in front of him. “This is my girl, Jesse,”
Jesse’s eyebrows jumped to her hairline in surprise and her mouth popped open. His friends laughed when they saw her expression.
“Looks like that’s news to her.” One of the women teased.
“Naah,” Jax grinned and gave her a quick kiss on top of her head. “Just a work in progress. Jesse, these are my friends.”
He pointed to each one in turn as he introduced them.
“Tanner,” a copper headed, green eyed man with freckles across his pierced nose.
“Aiden,” a blond, baby-faced male with dark brown eyes.
“Joe,” he had dreadlocks piled on top of his head, snake bite piercings and a colorful shirt for a cartoon that Jesse had recently seen.
“Tamlyn,” a tall and skinny woman with skin of rich caramel. Her hair was up in an intricate afro with gold beads throughout that matched the collection on her one arm and leg. She wore a neon green crop top that matched her shoes with a tight black and white skirt.
“Teresa,” she had thick, auburn hair that fell down to her waist in a riot of curls from two buns on top of her head. The cutest pair of glasses Jesse had ever seen perched at the tip of her nose.
“I’m glad to see that you’re with someone other than your mother this time.”
Jax laughed as he urged Jesse into the seat next to him.
“You love my mom.”
“True. No one throws back tequila the way she does.”
“And you know it’s going to be a party when she’s around.” Tamlyn agreed as she passed one of the drinks crowding the middle of the table to them.
“Although I’m sure you’re girl will be just as wonderful to have around,” Aiden said with a flirty smile which had Jesse shifting awkwardly in her chair as she blushed.
“Keep your smooth talk and devil dimples away from my girl. I’ve seen how you work that baby face too many times.”
Aiden grinned unabashedly and shrugged.
“It’s not my fault you can’t keep them interested. I know how to speak to a lady. What do you say, Jesse? Want to come here and see which one of us you’d prefer?”
“I would but xxx
The day dissolved into a rush of friendly jabs, funny stories, and endless laughter. The drinks all seemed to flow seamlessly from one to another and, as the day bled into night, Jesse slowly forgot that she needed to be cautious. A few plates of nachos were brought for the table and Jesse pressed closer to Jax as they shared one. By the time the nachos and her third glass was done, she was the one who was initiating every touch.
Touching hands.
Leaning against him.
Even hooking her foot around his leg.
And his friends looked on in obvious delight.
All of who were easy to be around as they constantly made sure that Jesse was included in the conversation without being offended when she didn’t contribute much. Content to mostly sit back and enjoy the interaction between them and Jax. The years of friendship was obvious in all the stories they had to tell but also the easy way they could tease each other.
It reminded Jesse of her friendship with Sasha and Lou.
Both of whom would be besides themselves when they found out what Sasha's meddling had made possible. Too bad for them that Jesse had decided that she was going to keep to herself for a few days, just to see how long they would wait until they called her, demanding answers.
Jesse chuckled.
Nosy heifers, she thought affectionately.
“What are you chuckling about over here?”
Jesse smiled up at Jax, whose face was much closer than she had expected. Her breath caught and she licked her lips nervously when she was pulled into his warm expression.
“Just thinking about my friends and how much they would have loved to have been here.”
“Aah, the gatekeeper of all your details and …”
“Lou. Louise. She owns a bakery a few blocks from the office.”
“Is she as protective of you as Sasha?”
“In her own brand of special way, yeah. I think we’re all rather protective of each other since none of us have any family in the city.”
“Oh? Where are your parents?”
“They’re still in my home town. It’s about four hours inland. I don’t see them as often as I should but,” Jesse shrugged and played with the empty cup in her hand, “they still see me as the little girl who left home. And I haven’t been that girl in a very long time.”
“And that makes it difficult for you?”
“In a way.” Jesse waffled, uncertain of how to explain her feelings. “They knew the girl that had certain goals and dreams and they don’t understand why that has changed. Now when I see them, they try to convince to get back into the things that I used to enjoy. To move back home.”
To give Luke another chance, Jesse thought with a grimace.
“But you don’t see it as home anymore, do you?”
“I haven’t for a really long time. I’ve found a place for myself in the city and it’s a place that feels … good.”
“Good or comfortable?”
“Ooh, surprisingly insightful Mr. Monroe,” Jesse teased, and pushed her shoulder against his side. “It’s definitely good. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but I’m happy where I am now and with the way my life is. Going back home … well, let’s just say there’s very little to be happy about there.”
“Hmm ..”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know a I-have-something-to-say ‘hmm’ when I hear one.”
“Fair enough,” Jax replied with a chuckle as he switched Jesse’s empty cup with one of the full ones from the middle of the table.
“Tell me, or else I’ll have to torture it out of you.”
Jax laughed and warded Jesse off as she playfully tried to pinch his arm..
“Okay, okay. But just know that this is only what I’ve observed in the short time that I’ve known you.”
“Stop stalling and give up the goods.”
“You really are a sassy little thing.”
She made as if she was going to pinch him again but Jax quickly pinned her arms down and adjusted her so that her back was to him. His lips brushed against her ear as his soft words shook her fragile foundations.
“You, my little guppy, give a good show of being happy but when you look a little closer, it’s clear to see that you have settled. Settled for boring. Settled for mediocre. And settled for just enough. There’s a woman locked inside all of that banality who is crying for more. And I think if you let her out, you’ll find a great deal more happiness than you ever knew existed.”
Heart pounding, Jesse allowed Jax to hold her together while she tried to find her equilibrium. It took everything she had to not run from him and his keen observations.
He kissed her cheek in a sweet kiss.
“Alright. No more serious talk.” Jax soothed. “Finish that drink and we’ll head over to the DJ area to see what’s going on there. Who knows maybe I can even convince you to get your feet into the ocean.”