The Proposal: Chapter 6

Jax smirked to himself as Victoria Garcia stared, her mouth gaping in shock, as he walked into the ballroom.

"Where is your bride?" a voice soon asked.

"She will be here." Jax answered Jerry without looking at him. Jerry was unaware of Jax's injury, and Jax intended to keep it that way. The only reason Garcia had been able to hurt Jax at all was because Jax had insisted on stopping the dual, knowing if it did not end, Garcia would be dead, and Victoria's child would be without a father. It was when Jax turned to leave that Garcia attacked, with Victoria watching in terror. Jax was sure that terror was the only reason Garcia did not try and kill him there...that or the fear that when Garcia failed...and he would have failed to murder Jax...Jax would disregard Victoria and end Garcia's life in front of his wife.

Her presence was the only reason Jax continued to walk away.

Jerry, would not be as kind.

"Is she still avoiding you?" Jerry laughed.

"No." Jax was serious. "Though it would make everything easier if she would," he finished with a mumble, following Jerry through the crowd.

Or more importantly, if he would let her.

"I am surprised to see you."

"Excuse me," Jax said to the man he was talking to. He turned and looked at Garcia. "Is that so?."

"Yes. Last we met, you were not...feeling in top condition."

Jerry stopped glaring at Garcia to stare at his brother. "What is he speaking of?"

Garica did not answer, knowing as Jax did, that Jerry would never allow him to get away with the attack.

"You know the mood seeing Garcia places me in." Jax continued to stare at his nemesis. "However, as you can see now, my condition is well. Better than well, actually."

Keesha looked around the ball room. Normally she would be nervous. She had never been to such a grand looking function in the twenty years she had been alive. Yet at this moment, she had no time for nerves. She had no time for anything except for to find...

"Jax..." Keesha blinked, fear rising at seeing Garcia speaking to Jax.

"Did you leave your bride?"

"I am tired of your questions regarding my wife. My wife does not concern you, and the sooner you realize that, the better for you."

"Jasper..."

"In fact." Jax's jaw began to twitch. "The sooner you leave my entire family alone, the better the chances you will see your child born."

"I already have a child. And soon he will be home with me where he belongs."

Jax tensed, actually ready to throw a punch at Garcia.

"My lord..." Keesha touched touched Jax's arm. "I have been looking everywhere...oh hello." she pretended to see Garcia for the first time.

"Lady Jacks." Garcia smiled and Keesha had to fight the urge to spit in his face. "So nice to see you."

"Likewise." Keesha allowed her hand to travel down Jax's arm, brushing her fingers across his. Jax finally stopped looking at Garica, turning his attention to Keesha.

"So, Lady Jacks..." Garcia continued to smile at Keesha.

"Leave us." Jax ordered as he continued to stare at Keesha.

"Pardon? Actually, Jasper, you are not..."

Garcia stopped speaking as Jax grabbed a tight hold of Keesha's hand, walking her away.

Keesha tore her hand from Jax's the moment they were outside. The music playing inside the mansion drifted outside to the back, where they were. Jax took a sip of wine and stood near the front of the maze sculpted in greenery. "How dare you." Keesha spoke harshly yet softly. "You know..."

Keesha's voice began to drift out to Jax as he stared at her, the cream color of her gown, highlighting against her brown skin...her hair swept up with a few tendrils cascading down her neck...Jax found himself longing to sweep them aside, to replace them with his mouth.

Jax focused once more. "...and you know very well that you should not be out, and you surely should not be sparring with Gar...that man..."

"Thank you."

"Do not interrupt me."

Jax blinked. He walked over to Keesha and stated simply. "I don't know how marriages work in America, but where I am from, men have used corporal punishment against less disrespectful wives."

"I am sure lesser men have. I sincerely doubt even you would stoop to such a level....why are you smiling at me?"

"You do not believe I would harm you?"

"Not in that way, no. Why are you smiling at me..."

"Thank you again." Jax walked away from Keesha again. Instinctively she was aware of things about Jax, and that, once again, touched him. "I believe you were berating me for leaving our..." Jax froze and looked at Keesha. He was becoming much too comfortable. "My home and coming here."

"I cannot believe you would be so selfish as to put your health and well being below this...fued with that man. I understand you are upset, and rightly so, however, you ought to be at home, in bed..."

"Will you take me?"

"Home? That is the only reason I am here."

"I do not mean, take me home. I mean take me to bed."

Keesha sighed. Any other time that statement, coming from Jax, would have left her speechless. Yet right now she was too angry even to be stirred by his charms.

Aside that he was too far away, and that meant she could not become completely lost in his yes. "That is not a very gentlemanly thought, Jax."

"That is your fault. You are looking so very...enticing this evening."

"I am not here to entice. I am here to take you home."

Jax walked slowly back to Keesha once more. "You...my lady..." he whispered. "Are absolutely maddening."

"I believe I just used that term to describe you today."

"Then that would make us..." destined "...alike." Jax ran his gloved fingers around the contours of her face.

Keesha felt her breath catch in her throat. She had never in her life seen a man as handsome as Jax was at that moment...the moonlight seemed to be made just to frame his beautiful face, and his eyes seemed to be glowing as he stared into hers. And for the first time, she noticed the small scar on the right side of his upper lip...yet, that alleged imperfection, only served to make her decide that there could be nothing imperfect about the man. Every single thing about him was purely lovely. All the way down to the way his clothes fit upon his muscular body...as if they were tailor made...

They probably were tailor made...Keesha reminded herself, trying to bring herself back to the present. "If you are trying to distract me, you are failing." Keesha managed to breathe.

"Perhaps I would do better by asking you to dance with me."

"Dance? I cannot."

"You do not wish to..." Jax's voice trailed off at her rejection and he began to move away.

"No..."

Jax turned around.

"I mean, I cannot. I have never...danced...like..." she turned, looking into the ballroom.

"It is simple. All you need to do is follow me."

Keesha looked back at Jax once more.

"Of course, if you do not trust me..."

Jax looked down as very slowly, Keesha held her hand out.

"Jax...are we not going inside?" Keesha asked as Jax wrapped his arm gently around her waist.

"No." Jax held out his other hand, and she took it before staring up into his eyes once more.

"Now what?"

"Now I fight the urge to kiss you." he mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Close your eyes."

Keesha gave Jax a small nervous smile, and he watched as she shut her eyes.

"Good. Just listen to the music...and let yourself feel where I am going."

Closing her eyes, she understod. Hearing the music she could also do. But how did one feel where her partner was going....

Keesha almost gasped as she seemed to be literally gliding on air. Never before had she felt so absolutely free...

"Very good." Jax smiled. "See it is not that hard...now we see just how far your trust for me goes..."

Keesha opened her eyes, and Jax's smile grew as her eyes literally shined as he led them around in circles, moving quickly. Now Keesha felt more like she was flying, with only Jax's grip on her to keep her from falling...and she knew she was never more safe.

"Very good."

"Very good." she laughed. "Thank you."

"You..." Jax suddenly stopped, pulling Keesha so far into him, his face was not even an inch from hers. "...are most welcome my lady..." he whispered.

"May I have the pleasure?"

Keesha turned, and then glanced back at Jax. "Please do not..." she said to herself.

Jax let go of Keesha's waist. "I thought I told you to leave my family alone," his voice was low, his words slow, and Keesha could feel the hatred flowing from each one. "I thought..." Suddenly, Jax looked at Keesha. "I believe we are ready."

Keesha blinked. "Yes my lord." He was going to let Garcia alone? Jax was actually going to let Garcia alone?

"You cannot keep just keep her forever Jasper! Women have minds of their own..."

Keesha looked back at Garcia, wondering what he could be bothering Jax with now. Jax let go of Keesha's hand. "To the carriage. We are going home." he stated, his voice cold.

"How are you feeling?" Keesha spoke the first words since they began their trip back to the manor.

Jax quit looking out of the window, drawing the curtains shut. "Well."

"Jax..." Keesha decided to take a chance. He had talked to her before, perhaps..."Garcia is only being so baiting specifically for that reason, to bait you into something you may regret. You have Jules, and you will keep Jules, I do not understand why you must continue to let him fill your life with such turmoil."

Jax looked over at Keesha, not saying anything.

"I apologize..." She realized she actually called Garcia by name. "...that man."

"You may call him what you wish, say what you wish, I do not care. As long as you do not speak to him alone."

For some reason, his words hurt her, and she was taken aback. "What did I do to deserve such a response."

"First you hate it when I tell you what you can say and what you cannot. And now I tell you to speak of whomever, however, and that does not please you either? Do what you will Keesha. We are married for Jules and that is all. I have no say in any other aspect of your life."

Keesha only answered with a nod.

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

Keesha slipped into her dressing gown, walking over to the bowl in the bath. She sat removed the ribbons from her hair, wetting it and running her fingers through it. With a sigh she left and walked over to her chamber window.

She knew it.

The only way anything would work was by avoiding Lord Jasper Jacks. Let him live his life and she would live hers.

She knew it.

Yet she had disregarded that...she had not only failed to avoid him...she had actually received a glimpse into the actual man behind the manor, and the title, and the matter of fact words...

The man with, but beyond ,the poetic blue eyes...the man with, but beyond, the brilliant smile...the man with, but beyond, the velvet voice...

Jax had given her a glimpse of the man behind, and in the process, that man had managed to touch her heart.

How could she allow that? It was completely idiotic, and now she was lost.

Jax, as always, had gone back to being Lord Jasper Jacks with her...despite asking her to call him by his given name...he had gone back to being Jax and left her alone in a place she had never been, with emotions she wished she had never felt, and thoughts she wished she never had.

He had changed her, and then left her to fend for herself. Which was exactly what she planned to do. Keesha walked over to her door, opening it. Maggie entered with a nightcap for her. "You are already dressed."

"I have told you, I have been dressing myself for years, and I manage to do so adequately."

"Yes."

Keesha froze.

"Quite." Jax leaned away from their adjoining door. Seeing Jax's half dressed state, Maggie dropped her eyes, leaving quickly. Keesha waited until Maggie had closed the door, taking the time to gather her courage. She finally turned and looked at Jax.

"Yes?"

"You are ready for bed so soon?"

Keesha blinked, realizing Jax had never seen her in her dressing gown. All of a sudden, she felt less covered than she had in that damn barmaids dress nights ago.

And more than that, she felt much more vulnerable. She crossed her arms in front of her as Jax smiled.

"Yes?" she repeated.

"The doctor ordered my bandage changed before bed."

Jax watched as Keesha walked past him into the bath. After a moment he followed. "Do you prefer to do this while standing or reclining?" she asked softly, as she disinfected her hands. She took the solution in one hand, a clean light cloth in the other.

"Standing is fine."

Keesha nodded and Jax leaned against the wall as she began her work. Without looking at him, she removed his old bandage, wiping the solution gently over his side. Jax closed his eyes at the slight sting and then opened them once more, looking down at Keesha. As the doctor had shown her, she began to wrap a fresh bandage and in a few moments she was done. "Finished." she stated and Jax watched as she went over to the warm water in the bowl, pouring some over her hands, before pouring some of the solution over them to disinfect. "Anything else?"

"No. Thank you."

Keesha nodded, drying her hands. "Pardon me." she said to Jax as he stood in the doorway to her chamber. "I would like to go to bed now."

"I would like to talk to you."

"About?"

Jax sighed, because he did not really know. He just knew that ever since the carriage ride Keesha seemed to be in pain...and that pain was starting to make her distance herself.

Which actually had been his plan when he told her on the way home to do what she would...it was not so much that he wanted to hurt her, he just wanted to place some distance between them. For some reason there had never seemed to be any distance between them...and he had his head and his heart full enough in concern with losing Jules...he could not allow himself to constantly be concerned that he would lose Keesha too.

"Jax?" Keesha waited. "I would really like to go to bed...Jax, what are you doing!" Keesha yelled as Jax swept her up. He carried her into her chamber, settling her on the bed so she was reclining.

He had to make her understand that he *needed* to do this...not that he wanted to. All he wanted to do was...

Keesha stopped breathing as Jax placed his hands on both sides of her, leaning in so close, she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

"I have to set some boundaries here, Keesha."

"What..."

"This is not about how I...feel, or even what I want...this is simply the way things have to be, and I need for you to understand that."

"Feel about what? I do not understand what you are talking about."

Jax groaned. There was no way to explain this. "Go to sleep...." He blinked as Keesha touched his face gently.

"I do not understand." she repeated.

"That is precisely what I mean. You can not touch me that way..." Jax drew her hand from his face. "You should not touch me in such a manner, and you should not be so worried about where I go and what I am doing."

"Why not?"

"The better question is why do you care?"

"Jules needs you, and I care about him, therefore I worry about you."

Jax nodded. "Of course." he looked back up into her eyes. "Is that all Keesha?" Keesha didn't answer and Jax nodded again. "Of course." of course that was all. Why should she really care about what he did and what happened to him. He was a fool to let himself believe he mattered.

"No." Keesha finally answered, even though she realized she should not. "That is not all."

"Then what else?" Jax wanted to hear the words from her...even though he wasn't sure what words could come. But if she could tell him why he mattered, beyond Jules, then he would be willing to allow himself to care for her openly, the way he cared for her almost from the moment they met.

"I shall not say." Keesha decided.

"I need to hear, Keesha. Please."

Keesha sighed. "I...I have nothing further to say." she leaned further down in the bed, cursing herself for letting things get so far.

"And you imply I am confusing..."

Keesha was tired of this. She had no idea of where she stood with Jax, and even as he told her to leave him alone, he wanted her to bare her soul and tell him how much he meant to her? "Fine. You are right, I am wrong, just leave." Keesha's tone grew cold.

"What?"

"Whatever you have to say is right, and I am wrong, does that satsify you enough to leave me alone!"

Jax continued to stare and Keesha began to wonder if what she felt all of this time, was some sort of odd hatred. "Maddening..." she mumbled. "What do you want from me?"

"Honesty."

"I have been as honest as I care to be at the moment."

Jax ran his fingers through his hair in so much frustration he did not notice the change in Keesha's eyes as she looked at him. "That does not suffice. I want you to be completely..."

Jax wanted honesty?

His thoughts were interrupted as Keesha leaned up, brushing her lips across his. He opened his mouth to hers and she kissed him slowly, the feathery caress invading every fiber of his being. She pulled away and Jax opened his eyes, watching as she laid back down in the bed once more.

"I suppose I am to apologize for such a...wanton move?"

Jax's gaze left her eyes, glancing down at her mouth. "I...I need to leave," he decided.

"And yet you have the audacity, to speak to me of honesty."

Her words stopped him and his voice lowered. "Do not ask for something if you are not ready to receive."

Like a lot of what Jax did or said, Keesha did not understand that either. "I wish you would not talk in riddles." She thought for a moment and then a smile tugged at her mouth. "Perhaps I am ready yet you are not ready to give," she responded, unsure of what she meant, but realizing it matched the inane comment he had made.

"Bloody hell..."

"What does that mean? You say it often."

"It means that you are maddening."

"I have angered you again? You are easily angered."

"I do not mean angry..." Jax watched Keesha's chest rise slightly with each breath. "I am leaving."

"Why?"

"Because you have no idea of what you are asking me for."

"I have not asked you for anything...I merely kissed you."

"There are ways of asking without words."

"How..." Keesha reached up, and Jax closed his eyes, expecting her to touch his face once more. Instead her fingers landed softly on his body, tracing slowly down the middle of his chest.

Jax opened his eyes and saw Keesha gazing at him. She waited for him to order her to stop, yet no words came from his lips.

Keesha pressed her hands to his chest, and Jax closed his eyes again, his entire body warming from her gentle touch. She looked down as she dragged her hands gently the rest of the way down his body.

Keesha traced his body with her fingertips, absolutely fascinated by the hardness of his muscles...but when she heard him let out a small exhale, her fascination turned into pure desire. Jax opened his eyes just as she ran her tongue over her lips, attempting to be rid of the dryness which seemed to come merely from staring at him.

She found herself wondering if the rest of his skin tasted as wonderful as his lips...yet...Keesha looked up into Jax's eyes once more.

Jax bent forward, pushing her hair to one side. He took a deep breath and placed a small kiss on her shoulder. She closed her eyes, brushing her fingers across his stomach as his gentle kisses travelled up the side of her neck. His stomach contracted and he groaned.

The deep sound reached Keesha's ears, and her eyes flew open. "Jax?" she whispered.

Jax refused to answer her this time-at least with words. Instead his hands found the straps to her dressing gown and began to pull them from her body, until the tops of her breats were peaking out. He ran his hands slowly down the front of her body, his fingers trapping underneath her breasts as his kisses travelled to her chest. Keesha wanted to ask him what he was doing...wanted to beg him to never stop as that tingle she had first felt the day he kissed her went through her body...yet this time, everything was intensified ten-fold. Jax sucked against her skin with such force that her body arched...and she moaned deeply.

"Understand?" he breathed into the cleavage his hands had formed.

"Yes..." Keesha ran her fingers through the back of his hair. So many sensations were going through her body, that she did not know what to do...

As if in answer, Jax rested completely on top of her, smiling against her throat as, even through the material of her gown, he could feel her nipples harden beaneath him.

Jax drew his mouth from her body, finding Keesha's lips. He kissed her passionately, and Keesha returned his kiss, drowning any remaining fear she had in the taste of his mouth. Whatever it was that Jax had done to her to cause such sweet torture in her body, Keesha now knew only he could remedy it...and she needed him to do so...

"JAX!"

Jax leapt up off of Keesha, running out of her room at Jules' scream.

"What happened?" Keesha asked Agnes as they stood in Jules' chamber.

"Someone came through Jules' window."

Keesha groaned. Garcia.

"You are coming to my room..."

Keesha turned her attention to Jax's voice.

"I am too big to be in your room." Jules protested.

"Dammit Jules!..." Jax looked over as Keesha touched his arm. Jax took a deep breath.

"Jules, it would make me feel a whole lot better if you stayed with Jax." Keesha said softly.

Jax looked away from her, glancing back at Jules.

Jules nodded slowly, thankful Keesha gave him the reason to do what he so desperately wanted to. "What happened to you?" he asked as Jax picked him up and he noticed the bandage for the first time.

"Oh...just a little cut..."

Jax opened the door at the gentle knock.

"I assumed you were not sleeping." Keesha held out a tray of tea.

Jax moved out of the way and Keesha walked in.

"Perhaps we will move to America." Jax sat down in the long chair next to his fireplace. Keesha did not answer. If America would keep Jules with Jax, then they should go.

She would miss them terribly.

But perhaps they should go.

"I know some people there..." the thought continued to form in Jax's mind.

Keesha sat down next to Jax, handing him a cup of tea.

To her surprise he placed it on the floor...continuing to watch Jules as he rested his head against her shoulder. Keesha slowly reached up, running her fingers gently through his hair.

Jax closed his eyes...and soon, in the comfort of being near Keesha, fell asleep.

Jax laid Keesha gently down next to Jules in his bed. He walked over to the door, opening it. "America."

"Keesha cannot go to America." Jerry whispered.

"Why? She obviously was not a slave before. She's too well educated."

"Because...they do not allow marriages such as yours there. You would both wind up in jail, and she would probably be sold into slavery."

Jax shook his head; he had not been thinking clearly.

"I said Keesha could not go. You could."

Jax leaned back, looking at Jules and Keesha sleeping on his bed.

"No, I cannot. I will just have to think of something else."

Jerry nodded, looking at his brother as he waited.