Chapter 3 Stopping Her

Driving to the familiar location, he gets out and walks in. A smile is on his face as he sees people he knows well. Grabbing his drink as always, he sits down, a woman sitting opposite him.

"Alone again, I see Mr O'Donnell?" She smiles politely at him as he nods.

"Seems that way, Deana. Still no Master?"

She looks at him, pouting slightly while shaking her head. She has been coming here for years and seems to have about as much luck with her Master's as he does with his submissives. "Maybe we are just too odd to match anyone here?" She laughs gently as Jax nods his head.

"Or, it always fails because we are going after the fakes." She looks at him, her eyes shining and showing her shock. "Oh Deana, I do it myself. I notice you doing it, turning down every Master who gives you the offer except for the ones that look so alike, so why not go after the one you want?"

Deana nods, clearly not arguing with him. "Because I would be sleeping at a grave, Mr O'Donnell. The man I crave is long gone, and can and never will come back. I keep searching for those like him in the hopes I feel something, but I never do."

Jax looks at her sympathetically. He hadn't known. "I'm sorry, Deana."

She simply smiles back at him. "No sorry needed. He was a wonderful husband and Master. So, what about you, Mr O'Donnell? Why don't you go after the real one?"

Jax laughs nervously. He should have known that would be her question. "Because I am married, and vowed that no submissive will be allowed to fall in love with me. While she would agree to be my submissive in a heartbeat, that heart would shatter pretty quickly as I can't let her love me, no matter how much she longs to. I can't leave my wife." He can't. Things are bad with Roxanne, yes, but he loves her, of course, he does. She would have walked years ago if she wasn't so terrified her father would see her as a failure.

"Not even worth trying so you get just a small piece?"

Jax feels his head shaking. "No. Hell, her dad would beat my arse with a whip anyway if I touched his little girl. She's safer staying away from me and this lifestyle."

He had hoped Melodie would settle down, marry a nice guy, and have kids. Yet all she seemed to do was go after the bad guys as if giving a warning she won't settle down any time soon. Sitting, he continues drinking, watching everyone around him. His phone beeps and he looks down at a message from Lucas. This isn't going to be good.

"I will be longer. Something got totally fucked up on the mission while I was off"

Jax feels his eyes rolling. Of course, something got fucked up. They had both taken time off together. A body dancing catches Jax's attention, a smile coming to his face.

"Another one, Mr O'Donnell?" He turns and smiles at Deana.

"Can you say if Ethan walked over now and offered you a position as his submissive, you would turn him down?"

She laughs nodding. "Hell no, I would say yes. Just consider it, Mr O'Donnell. What is the worst that can happen if you give that other woman a chance?"

Everything. He accepts he loves her, he leaves Roxanne, ruining her life and then destroys Melodie's as well as he doesn't want kids and hell, he doesn't want to be married again either. Standing, he walks to the dance floor, watching as Ethan smiles as he walks towards it. He stands still watching as Ethan meets the woman and smiles at her, his hand reaching out. Jax laughs. Well, there goes that one. He watches as they walk off through the building, his eyes following them, watching as Ethan's arm wraps around her. Seeing her top moving, his body runs cold. Not a chance! He feels his body moving suddenly towards them. Towards Melodie. Rushing, he pushes through the crowds of people walking down the small hall. Seeing the locked doors, he watches as Melodie steps inside a room with Ethan.

Jax reaches the door, banging on it. She shouldn't be here, and certainly not with Ethan. While he is kind enough in front of people, he also likes his drugs. His hands bang on the door again as it swings open. Ethan steps back as Jax walks straight over to Melodie and pulls her mask off.

"Home. Now." He stares at her as she laughs.

"No, thank you, Jax. Do you mind leaving us to it?" She moves to smile at Ethan.

"Now, Melodie, or I swear to God I will drag your arse out of here over my shoulder."

She laughs nervously. "You wouldn't dare. You would get in so much shit from the managers." She is right. She smiles, knowing she is.

"Doubtful, Melodie. I have a very close relationship with them, so just try it. Now, move!" He shouts at her, his hand going to grab her arm, Ethan beside him, pulling him back.

"Mate, she wants to be here."

Jax laughs, turning to face him. "You know who she is, right?" He looks at Jax, shaking his head. "Melodie Bozzelli."

Ethan looks at her and steps back with his hands up. "I didn't know. I swear, had I known it was your Melodie I wouldn't have even tried it."

Jax laughs, shaking his head. "She isn't my Melodie but she is Lucas's. I am just the one stuck babysitting her arse. Move." He looks at her waiting as she moves on the bed getting comfier. Jax feels his muscles tense. Damn, this woman! Jax moves, grabbing Melodie from the bed. He throws her over his shoulder as she screams, fighting against his grip. His long strides are no effort at all as he walks through the building with her screaming to be put down, everyone turning to look.

"Damn you, Jax! I am not a child!" Her hands hit his back. His hand raises as he slaps her arse.

"Keep going, and I swear you won't be able to sit down." He walks to his car. Throwing her in, her body moves to get back out.

"Do it and I swear I will tie your legs together, Melodie." She looks at him. Nodding, she sits back. Even she isn't foolish enough to fight him right now. She can see he means it. He gets in and begins driving, her eyes watching him.

"You're a bastard, Jax. Can't fuck me but won't let anyone else fuck me."

Jax laughs, turning to face her. "Could fuck you and don't want to. You were just about to hop into bed with one of the guys we are looking into. Stay the fuck away, Melodie."

She laughs. "I can handle myself, thanks. I don't need you fighting my corner." Jax shoots her a warning look as he turns back to the road. "Come on, Jax, just let me go back. I go every week. It has been years since you even asked me what I have done. You and Dad can't stop me. Let me out." He ignores her and carries on driving, her foot tapping as she feels her anger rise.

"How's lovely Roxanne, Jax? Still shagging the one she really loves."

He turns and glares at her. "Do it. I swear, Melodie. I will gag you and put you in the fucking boot and ship you as far away from here as I can get you just so I don't have to deal with your shit anymore. You're fucking stupid. The fact you go there proves it, and you only mention Roxanne because she gets what you can't fucking have." He turns back to the road. A few seconds pass in silence, and then he hears the quiet sobs and turns to look at her. Damn, he made her cry.

"Don't you go crying, Melodie, I swear." She looks at him. His eyes avoid seeing her, feeling his heartbreak.

"You hate me, don't you? You hate me so much you would rather stay faithful to someone you know loves someone more. Am I that repulsive?" Oh damn, he can't do this.

"Melodie, no, seriously, don't fucking cry, or I swear."

She looks at him, waiting. "Or you swear what, Jax? You can't go telling my dad that a guy made me cry, can you? What are you going to do? Beat yourself up this time?"

He stops outside her house and watches as she gets out. Moving, he follows her, hearing the front door slam behind them. Walking in, he goes straight to her.

"You know full well you're not repulsive, Melodie. Don't go throwing that shit around. Look at me now." Her head stays down as she shakes it. His hand reaches out and pushes her chin up to look at her, his heart breaking. "Why the hell are you doing this, Melodie? You need to forget about me."

She laughs, looking at him. "I have. I gave up on you a long time ago, Jax, but you can't just leave it, can you? No, you have to step in and stop me from being happy. I don't want you. Why would I want someone so scared of love that he stays with someone who hates him?" She turns to walk away, his hand grabbing her arm and stopping her.

"Stop, stop bringing my fucking marriage into this, Melodie. Look around you. I have stayed out of your life for years, and you're still alone. Maybe you're the issue." She stands staring at him, shocked. Damn it! He shakes his head, his arms going to wrap around her. "Sorry, Melodie. Just please stop with my marriage."

Her hands fight against his as she tries pushing him back. "I'm the problem. I get it, Jax. Go back to fucking those who look like me because, let's be honest, we both know the real reason you don't want me and think I am the issue in relationships." He stands looking at her confused. She loves him, or would if he gave her a chance, and he can't risk that. "Don't play dumb. Let me guess, you saw the scar and that is how you knew it was me? See, Ethan didn't seem to mind the scar, Jax. Clearly, you and everyone else do."

Jax stares at her, shocked, his head shaking as more tears fall from her eyes. It is hideous, awful. She usually hides it well. Tonight she took a risk wearing a shorter top, and Jax's words just proved to her it is repulsive.

"Look at me, Melodie. Your scar is nothing. If anyone sees an issue with it, they don't deserve you. You deserve someone who will drown in all the beauty you have but also the scars and marks, and still come out unable to breathe because all they see is beauty."

She nods looking at him. "And you see something that repulses you, I get it. Go back there, Jax, go get the perfect ones without any marks." She tries pushing him away, which only makes him step closer. He can't go, not while she crying, he can't.

"Melodie, don't." His finger strokes along her back where the scar is. "It is fucking perfect. You are perfect. Please stop crying and thinking you're repulsive. You're not. Hell, Melodie, I saw all the guys watching you tonight, all of them, that is how amazing you look." They all did, and Ethan was quick to get up there and offer her a place.

"Don't. You being nice to me and lying will just make this worse. Just go, Jax. I don't want or need you anymore."

He is going to regret this.