Memory Lane

Chapter 13. Tired

Tara

Jax walked in while I was putting the dishes away. I had just finished having dinner with the boys and I didn't think he would be home so soon. He usually came home late from doing stuff with the club, so I usually didn't bother making him anything. "Hey," he said planting a peck on my lips. "Hey, you're home early."

"Yeah, slow day." I noticed a faint smell of a powdery fragrance on his shirt. It was confusing because I hadn't seen Jax all day nor did I wear anything that smelled remotely familiar. Gemma also didn't strike me as a person who favored something so feminine. So, immediately I put my guard up and glared at my husband, "who were you with today?"

"The guys, why?" he gave me a look before he opened the fridge to grab the milk. "I don't know, you just smell different," I tried not to be too obvious, but it was hard to keep my composure. Jax and I hadn't been married that long and I found it hard to trust him around other women, considering that he did cheat on me before.

"Different how?" he pulled the collar of his shirt to his nose and inhaled. His eyebrows raised when he smelled the scent I was hinting at. "Oh, that's just from Desiree. I gave her a ride home today." I shifted uncomfortably. I didn't really know Desiree enough to know who she was or what she stood for, but the fact that they were married before and that Gemma liked her made her someone I was uncomfortable around. I mean, it wasn't like Jax and her didn't work out or they got a divorce like him and Wendy. They were in love, they were married, and they were expecting. She was taken from him against her will, and I could see how pained he looked when she was brought up in conversations.

"She called you to give her a ride?" I had no idea that they were even communicating.

Jax shook his head, "no, I saw her downtown after that meeting with Hale. I offered her ride home since I was already heading home myself."

I pursed my lips; it did make sense for him to give her a ride. Gemma's house was only seven minutes from ours, but I didn't want him to make this into a habit. Jax read my face and let out a groan, "what's the matter, Tara?"

"Nothing, I just don't know if you're going to make this into a thing or not."

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean getting into the habit of giving her rides all the time. You're not some taxi driver, she can find another ride."

"We live seven minutes away from my mom's house." He had a look on his face that was a cross between annoyed and serious. I didn't feel like arguing over a boundary that I was uncomfortable with. And besides, I don't understand why he was taking this so hard since I was his wife, and he should acknowledge that I am uncomfortable with him giving rides to other women.

Jax closed the carton of milk and placed it back in the fridge. "I'm going to go take a shower," was all he said before leaving me in the kitchen alone. He muttered something under his breath that I couldn't hear, and that just agitated me more. He was acting like such a child! Why did he care so much? We were newlyweds for crying out loud! He should be aiming to make things work with me, not trying to go against my wishes about some other woman. I sucked my teeth and made my way into our bedroom. I could hear the shower running and I saw his clothes on the chair in our room. I rolled my eyes and began to put his things away before I went to lay in the bed.

In my attempt to fall asleep, I heard the water in the bathroom stop. After about a minute or two, Jax came into the room with only a towel wrapped around his waist. I could hear him digging through the drawers for something to put on his naked body. I pretended to be asleep until I felt his side of the bed dip. I was expecting to feel his muscular arms around me because Jax was a cuddler. But to my surprise, he never turned to my side.

At first, I thought that maybe he was getting himself adjusted. But after five minutes, I could hear the delicate sound of his breathing. It was unlike him to sleep next to me without some form of physical contact. So, naturally, I was curious as I flipped over to watch him sleep. To the untrained eye, this was a normal way for someone to sleep. But to me, Jax must have been really upset with what I said earlier about Desiree. He only avoided touching me when he was upset, but those were rare and few occasions. He usually gave in halfway through the night. His body would betray him and act on the impulses of his heart. So, I finally decided to let sleep take me, Jax would give in sooner or later.

However, at about 2 am, Jax started to mumble in his sleep. At first, I thought nothing of it, until he was downright moaning. His breath was shallow and by the look on his face, I assumed that his dream was pleasant. I found it humorous because Jax never had a wet dream. At least, never in my presence. I didn't think a man like him would ever have one, considering that he acted out every desire he pleased.

"That's it, Darlin, right there," he said in between breaths. I leaned into him closer to see the effects of his dreams. It kind of turned me on to see him like this, and I didn't hesitate to plant a tender kiss on his lips. He unconsciously kissed back and I moaned into his mouth. This woke him up and he gave me a reaction that I wasn't expecting. He almost looked bewildered, like he was shocked to see me.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I said gently. He took a minute to regain his composure, but when he did he flew off the bed and ran to the bathroom. I was so confused that I ran after him only to see him wiping himself clean with a moist towel.

When he was done, he threw the towel into the hamper and looked up at me. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

Jax shook his head, "nothing," he kissed my forehead before he went back to bed. I followed him into the bedroom and laid next to him. He was staring up at the ceiling, not even bothering to look at me. I know he could feel my eyes boring into his face when he bit his bottom lip nervously. "If it was nothing, why did you act like that?" I was unable to let it go because something had bothered him. And I wanted to know what that "something" was.

"Tara, I told you it was nothing."

"But Jax-"

"Can we please not do this right now? I'm really tired," he turned his back to me while I lay there shocked. I was supposed to believe that the man who came home early today was tired? The same man that I have seen pull all-nighters with the club was suddenly too exhausted to talk to his wife? I scoffed, "Yeah, sure. Goodnight." I was nowhere close to letting this go. He was hiding something from me, I could feel it.