Dana opened her eyes, still drowsy. Quick, clicking noises had waken her up. It took a few seconds before she realized where she was. After looking through dozens of pictures of men she didn't know, they'd gone to Juice's room. For some reason she'd wanted to play Mario Kart, but when she found out that was a game she neither was very talented in, she'd lowered the controller and watched how he was playing. Apparently, she'd fallen asleep.
He sat with his back against the wall, and she leaned onto him him, her head against his chest, while he'd wrapped his arms around her. The controller rested on her stomach. Contrary to the device that had been in his apartment, this one was wireless and he didn't need to change discs. That was at least what she was expecting, since he was playing a shooter now. Now and then he cursed softly when he was hit.
She chuckled and looked up. His eyes were focused on the screen, but it didn't take long before his lips curled into a smile.
"Guess you were tired?"
"That seems to happen often when we're watching a TV-screen."
"Well, they were some steep days." He put the controller aside and pulled his arms a little tighter around her.
"I don't mind if ya play along. It's kinda sweet, all that mopin' of yours."
"I've done that enough for today."
With her index finger she stroked the back of his hand, slowly drawing curls. She laid the back of her head against his chest again and looked up, so she could just get a glimpse of his face without stretching her neck. "Why were they angry with you, this morning? Just because you were too late?"
His lips glided down her neck and she closed her eyes for a moment, humming in approval. "Because I was busy doin' this, instead of finding out who Danny was."
"Hmm. I can't be mad about that."
He chuckled softly, which was muffled by the kisses he pressed against her skin. "They were right, though. I should have looked into that guy before I went to the Chapel. I just hadn't thought about it for a second. Like I forget so many other things when I'm with you."
Dana smirked. Still her thoughts shot back to the Croweater in his office. Back then his mind had clearly been occupied by something else as well. "When you're with me or when your with girls in general?"
"With you."
A silence fell. She sensed he knew what she was thinking of.
"You're still mad?"
She sat up straight and turned towards him. "It's just hard for me to... to imagine someone just kneels down in front of you to..." She made a gesture with her hand, she didn't feel like saying the word out loud. "I saw that you were startled when you heard my voice. So, deep down you must have known that..." With a deep sigh she shook her head.
"You wanna know what I was thinkin' when she insisted?"
"Well?" she muttered, without looking at him. "Do I?"
"Maybe not."
She looked up. It was shame that was written all over his face. "Well?"
"My first thought was that I might as well give her what she wanted since the guys wouldn't come back any time soon. Right after that I thought about you and I realized that wasn't the way to blow off steam anymore." His hand caressed the duvet, as if he didn't know how she would react if he touched her now. "I got a lot on my mind, and it took some time to switch. But before I could dismiss her, you were already there and as soon as I saw you, I knew you would draw your own conclusions."
Dana's glance wandered across his face. He was sincere. She had no doubt.
"Have you been with someone else, the past days? When I wasn't around?"
Juice shook his head. "I've been with no one since you're here. I came close to doing so at Tig's birthday, when you and Jax..." He sighed and shook his head. "But I didn't."
Dana dropped her eyes. "You already liked me?"
"Since the moment you stood in the clubhouse in the middle of the night, the desire to protect you against who ever scared you so much was growing. In the days that followed I sometimes got the impression you started to have feelings for me, as did I. But when you made out with Jax... I thought I had been wrong all along."
Dana chuckled softly. "Yeah, that was a real ridiculous thing to do. I wanted to do anything to get rid off my feelings for you. But it didn't make any difference. You'd stolen my heart anyway."
"That's what happens, in a house full of Harley fanatics with a criminal record." His lips reached the cavity between her shoulder and neck, and a pleasant chill crept down her spine. With his hand he rubbed her goosebumps on her arm. "You like this, hmm?"
"You're trying to make things right?"
"Hmm-hmm," he mumbled, gently biting her skin. "Any success so far?"
"Nah. You should try harder."
Teasing, his teeth sunk a little deeper in her flesh. She kissed his forehead and he looked up to her. "You can't let it go, can you?"
"It reminds me of how you guys are dealing with women." She pulled up a knee and took Juice's hand. The golden rings felt cold against her skin. It was no reproach, but she did have the feeling they needed to talk about it. "Did you ever cheat?"
Juice looked shortly at her. Then he looked away. "Yeah. I did."