Ride me Down

Chapter Twelve - Scratches Down His Back

The bottle was halfway gone and Taylor was finally starting to relax—really relax—for what felt like the first time since she fell headfirst into Jax Maddon’s world. Her legs were tucked beneath her, a second glass of wine cradled in one hand, and Dani was lounging on the opposite side of the couch, matching her sip for sip.

The reality show was still running, but neither of them were paying attention anymore.

Taylor glanced sideways at Dani. "Alright, I need to ask. Do all the men in this club have a whole caveman possessiveness thing, or is that just a Jax special?"

Dani let out a laugh, swirling the wine in her glass. "It’s definitely a Jax special. The rest of them follow his lead, sure, but no one goes full alpha the way he does. You broke something in that man, Sparkles. I’ve never seen him like this."

Taylor raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment or a warning?"

"Little bit of both."

She groaned and flopped back against the cushions. "Great. That’s so comforting."

Dani nudged her with a sock-covered foot. "You knew what you were getting into. You saw the man, heard the voice. And let’s be real—you didn’t exactly resist."

"Don’t remind me." Taylor stared into her glass, lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "It’s just... I feel like I’m either going to fall head over heels or get my heart stomped on in steel-toe boots. There is no in between with him."

"That’s because Jax doesn’t do in between. And you?" Dani paused for effect. "You’re all in already, whether you admit it or not."

Taylor didn’t argue.

Because she was right.

"Okay, your turn," Taylor said, shifting to face her friend. "You and Mason. Something's going on there. Spill."

Dani choked a little on her wine, then tried to play it cool. "We’re just friends."

"Please. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You don’t look at your friends like that."

Dani smirked, but her cheeks flushed a little. "Let’s just say... it's complicated."

Taylor leaned in, eyes gleaming. "Oh, you have to elaborate now. We’re two glasses deep, there are no secrets between girls on wine. That’s a rule."

Dani rolled her eyes but grinned. "Fine. But you’re pouring the next round."

"Deal," Taylor said, already reaching for the bottle. Whatever storm waited for her outside this moment, right now, it could wait.

She had Dani, wine, and just enough peace to pretend the world wasn’t on fire.

For tonight, that was more than enough.

“A love triangle,” Taylor snorted, swirling the wine in her glass. “A full-blown biker love triangle. Who would’ve thought that would happen in your world. Honestly, if I had to pick, Mason wins on looks. Way more attractive than Diesel.”

Dani gave her a smug smirk. “True. But you don’t know what I know.”

Taylor’s eyes widened as she leaned in, voice dropping into a whisper. “Wait. He’s that good in bed?”

Dani just nodded, sipping her wine like she held all the secrets of the universe.

“Dani,” Taylor hissed, grabbing a throw pillow and whacking her leg, “You can’t leave me hanging like that. You have to spill. I’m dying over here.”

Dani tilted her head. “Only if you do too. Fair trade.”

Taylor raised a brow. “Tit for tat?”

“Exactly.” Dani turned toward her on the couch, one knee tucked up, wine glass cradled in her hand like they were at brunch and not hiding from emotional chaos.

“Okay.” Taylor pretended to think, tapping her lips with her finger. “What do you wanna know?”

Dani didn’t hesitate. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but… we’ve all fantasized about Jax. You know, doing the dirty with that man. So, now that you’ve actually lived the fantasy…” she trailed off, eyes glinting. “Don’t leave a girl hanging. What’s it like?”

Taylor’s cheeks flushed instantly. It didn’t bother her—she knew damn well other women wondered. Of course they did. Jax had that energy. That walk. That voice. The way he looked at people like he already knew their sins.

“You really wanna know?” Taylor asked, voice a little breathless as she sat back on the couch.

Dani leaned in. “Don’t be cute. I’m living vicariously through you right now.”

Taylor exhaled, the memory already warming her skin. “It’s… intense. Like, need-a-moment-to-breathe-after intense. He doesn’t just take control—he owns every second. My body? It’s like he’s got the blueprint and decided to rewrite the entire thing.”

Dani blinked, wide-eyed. “Holy shit.”

Taylor nodded solemnly, taking a sip. “I didn’t think I’d survive the first round. And then he just kept going.”

Dani let out a long, low whistle. “Damn. No wonder you were limping this morning.”

Taylor laughed. “Yeah, well. I’m not the only one dragging a secret around here. Now spill, Dani. I told you mine. What exactly did Mason do that makes you blush every time someone says his name?”

Dani smirked. “Let me top off our wine first. You’re gonna want a full glass for this one.”

They were both mid-laugh—Taylor nearly doubled over, wine glass dangerously tilted—when the front door opened.

Jax’s boots were the first thing she heard, heavy against the floor. Then his presence followed, sharp and charged like static before a storm.

Taylor didn’t even have to look to know he was staring.

“Uh-oh,” Dani muttered under her breath, straightening up with a sly smirk. “Daddy’s home.”

Taylor elbowed her with a whispered, “Shut up,” before she slowly turned her head—eyes wide, still smiling, cheeks flushed from wine and gossip and way too much information.

Jax stood there, arms crossed, eyes zeroed in on her like she was the only one in the room. The rest of the compound may as well have disappeared.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t have to.

His gaze dragged from her wine-stained lips to the way her body was curled into the couch cushions, cozy and glowing like she belonged there. It made something shift in her chest, just for a second.

Taylor blinked up at him, that grin still teasing the corner of her mouth. “You’re back early.”

He arched a brow, slow and unimpressed. “Sounded like you were throwin’ a party without me.”

Dani got up quick, grabbing the glasses and muttering something about dishes—though Taylor knew damn well it was a strategic retreat.

And then it was just them.

Taylor stayed where she was, chin resting in her palm, wine glass dangling from her fingers. “You jealous, Maddox?” she asked sweetly, tapping her nails against the glass. “Or just mad I didn’t save you a glass?”

He moved closer, slow and deliberate, that intense look never leaving her. “Neither,” he said, voice low and even. “I just like to know what’s got my girl giggling like she ain’t got a care in the world.”

She raised a brow at that. “Maybe your girl needed a night where she didn’t.”

He reached down, brushing his fingers along her jaw. “Yeah?” His voice was quieter now. Rougher. “Then maybe your man should remind you what happens when you get too comfortable.”

And just like that, the air shifted again.

Playful tension turned electric.

She met his gaze head-on, something sharp and teasing in her expression. “Big words for a man who walked in and got ignored.”

Jax gave her that wicked smirk—the one that always promised trouble.

“Get up, Taylor.”

She didn’t move. “Why?”

“Because I’m gonna remind you who you’re giggling for.”

Taylor didn’t remember standing.

One minute she was lounging on the couch, warm from wine and gossip, and the next Jax’s hand was wrapped around her wrist, dragging her through the hallway like she weighed nothing.

She could barely keep up, tipsy legs stumbling just enough to make him glance back with a smirk that said he liked her off-balance.

“You could ask, you know,” she said, breathless but defiant, her free hand catching the wall for support as they turned the corner.

“I don’t ask,” Jax said, voice low, deadly smooth.

He tugged her close again, her back colliding with his chest as they passed a group of club members filtering into the common room. She barely noticed them. Just felt the heat of his body behind her, the firm grip on her hand, the deep thrum of her heartbeat pulsing in her ears.

They weren’t subtle.

She heard a low whistle behind them. Someone said something like “damn,” and someone else laughed.

But Jax didn’t flinch.

Didn’t slow.

He pushed open the door to his room with his shoulder and pulled her inside, slamming it shut behind them with a sharp click.

Taylor let out a breathy laugh, leaning against the door. “Someone’s feeling territorial.”

Jax stepped in, hands braced on either side of her head. “Someone’s been acting like she needed reminding.”

“I was having fun,” she whispered, breath catching as he leaned in.

“I could hear it from the lot,” he growled, pressing closer, his hips pinning her to the door. “And all I could think about was that mouth of yours—and how you’re mine.”

She couldn’t think. Could barely breathe.

His mouth captured hers before she could say anything clever, and she melted. Her hands found the hem of his tee, pushing beneath it, feeling the solid lines of his body like it was instinct.

She forgot about Dani.

Forgot about the wine.

Forgot they weren’t alone in the compound anymore.

There was only Jax.

Only the heat. The weight of his body. The way he knew exactly how to touch her, kiss her, unravel her like no one else ever could.

And when he finally pulled back, his voice was rough in her ear. “You start something out there, Taylor... you’d better be ready to finish it in here.”

Her smirk curved, breathless and cocky. “That’s why I let you drag me.”

He lifted her off the ground, lips crashing into hers again, already moving toward the bed like he had all the time in the world.

And for the moment, she didn’t care who heard.

Let them know.

She wasn’t the girl they thought they saw on i********: anymore.

She was Jax’s now.

And tonight, that meant everything.