MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, Tessa had feared that she would have to continue to live with the fact that her father had power over her. Now, almost two months after her father's death, the twenty-one year old finally knew what it felt like to be free, to have her own will.

Hearing from Happy that he had killed Mike and did her a huge favor eight weeks ago, she was torn. The instant relief mixed with a sense of sadness had been confusing for her. But it was mainly her conscience that bothered her.

Who was happy when their parent died? What's more, she lived under the same roof as her father's murderer and they acted as if nothing had ever happened. She should hate Happy, loathe him and feel repulsed by his actionsᅳ instead she was grateful that, thanks to him, she was finally free from this prison, this oppression.

In general, the relationship between Happy and her had become closer, more familiar. They spent more time together, which was because Maria told her son to stay with Tessa more often and not sleep at the clubhouse all the time now that she was back in Bakersfield. And because Happy couldn't refuse his mother's wishes and valued her concern for the young woman, he spent at least five nights out of seven days at home.

Not only did Tessa get used to spending more time with the SAA, but Sawyer also liked having a man in the house with whom he could exchange ideas and do some 'cool boy stuff' as Sawyer called it. It was no longer noticeable that Happy didn't really have any experience with kidsᅳ now Tessa even believed that he was a natural when it came to dealing with those little whirlwinds.

On the other hand, Sawyer was an absolutely well-behaved, calm and sweet child who really wasn't difficult to get along with. In addition, the four-year-old was happy with everything that was offered to him. Even a day at the playground, which was the most normal thing in the world, put a permanent smile on his faceᅳ something that always made Tessa's heart swell with love.

She also spent a lot of time in the clubhouse now. The raven-haired woman hadn't gotten a daycare place yet because they were all full, but she also had a job that she had to do and Happy had suggested that he could take Sawyer with him.

And if Happy had to leave and handle business with the guys, Gemma assured her that she would step in at any time because she was watching Abel anyway. As a result, Sawyer finally found a real friend his age.

Tessa would definitely always be grateful for one thingᅳ and that was the huge support she got from Happy, Gemma and the rest, even though no one except Happy had known her before.

She was on her way to the clubhouse to pick up Sawyer. Through a call from Gemma, who was already there, she knew that Happy wasn't there at the moment but that her son was in good hands with herᅳ which Tessa didn't doubt.

Thanks to five hours in high heels and all sorts of positions that she had to do for two shoots, Tessa stepped through the door and into the clubhouse with heavy feet, the usual smell of cigarette smoke and leather filling her nostrils.

A smell that she got so used to and never wanted to miss again.

"Hey baby", Gemma greeted her with a kiss on the cheek as she came from the back just at the same moment. "Sawyer and Abel are taking a nap, they've been playing outside on the swing set all morning."

"Great, let's see if he still sleeps tonight", Tessa mentioned with a chuckle as she already had an inkling that Sawyer would definitely be less tired later than usual thanks to the little afternoon nap.

"Yeah...probably not", Gemma replied with a laugh as she glanced at the watch around her wrist. "I have some shit left to do in the office, will I see you later?"

"Not sure yet. I wanted to get some groceries later and then cook dinner", she explained before a blush crossed her face. "Happy is home tonight, I just want to do something good for him."

Gemma's right eyebrow shot up with a foreboding grin, her hands on her hips. "Do him something good, huh? Is there maybe a future Old Lady in the making?"

"What? No!" Tessa took a defensive position, her arms crossed over her chest, looking like an offended child with her slightly pouty lip. "I just want to show my gratitude for his support and for still letting me live at his house with Sawyer."

"Sure, and I actually believe you", the matriarch hummed, gently bumping her elbows into Tessa's side. "But I also have the feeling that that's not the only reason. You want to impress himᅳ and my feelings never betray me."

"Well, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you and tell you that your feelings are probably betraying you for the first time today, Gem", the dark-haired woman purred with a grin. "I don't want to impress anyone."

"Don't be a little bitch", Gemma warned with a finger held in Tessa's face, a playful grin on her face. "You'll see that I was right", she exclaimed as she made her way to the door, and Tessa could only shake her head in amusement.

"What is it that you'll see she was right about?" Lyla asked as she came in as Gemma strolled out the door, closely followed by Tara, who was still in her work clothes.

"Hey", the doctor greeted with a tight-lipped smile. "Where are Abel and Sawyer?"

"In the back, taking a nap", Tessa told the doctor, whose smile she returned just as reservedly before she glanced at Lyla and snorted a laugh. "She thinks I want to impress Happy just because I want to thank him by making dinnerᅳ as if something like that would impress him."

Tessa just rolled her eyes as Lyla flashed her the same grin that Gemma had given her a few minutes ago. "I don't want to impress him, okay?", she said with a soft groan.

"You have to stop lying to yourself, sweetie", the blonde winked cheerfully before plopping down on a bar stool. Since none of the guys were around at the moment, apart from a prospect who came forward every now and then, the women were able to talk openly. "What's so bad about wanting to impress him?"

"Because a relationship is the last thing she needs right now", Tara chimed in, leaning against the counter of the bar and slowly rolling her head back and forth, clearly exhausted from her shift. "Especially not with an outlaw biker while she already has CPS up her ass."

"Wow, hearing you talk like that almost impresses me", Lyla teased the brunette with a grin, only to receive a chuckle from both women. "Okay, the situation might not be the best right nowᅳ but what can they do? They can't forbid her from having a relationship."

"No, they can't", Tara agreed matter of factly. "But they can claim that Happy isn't a safe company for Sawyer and a bad influence. You know how condescending people like them can be. We know how big his rap sheet must be."

Tessa's eyes grew a little, yet she wasn't really surprised. "Uh, no, actually I don't."

"Well, it'sᅳ", Tara started but was cut off by the blonde with an urgent look.

"That's something he should tell her", Lyla said with a small smile, knowing that Tessa wasn't one to judge. Her and Happy would make a pretty great couple in her eyes.

"Guys, why are we even talking about this if there's nothing behind it, huh?" Sighing, Tessa also sank down onto one of the bar stools, her elbows stretched back a little to rest them on the surface of the bar, her in platform-boots covered feet dangling in the air since she wasn't the tallest. "Happy and I just get along well, which we have to, after all, we're currently sharing a house together. But that's all there is to it."

"Oh girl, really?" Shaking her head, Lyla waved her hand as she crossed one leg over the other. "You like him, and not just as a friend."

"I hate to say it", Tara paused to grab a bottle of water from behind the counter. "But Lyla's rightᅳ any blind person can see that you like Happy. And I mean really like him."

"Exactly. Thanks Tara", Lyla nodded with full agreement and as eagerly as ever. "I think the constant time you've been spending together at the moment has just shown you that you would be a good match."

"Come on, he's her brother", Tara said, grimacing at the thought of them hooking up.

"Stepbrother", Tessa corrected, kind of feeling offended by the doctor's slightly judgmental look. "And not even that. My dad and his mom weren't even married, let alone be together for that longᅳ Happy and I barely had a relationship before I moved here."

"Right, nothing weird about this", Lyla agreed with a hum before a grin took over her pretty face. "But that story would make such a good porn movie."

Tara just rolled her eyes while both of the women had a good chuckle, shaking her head with a sigh. Yet she couldn't hold back a small grin before all three of them broke out in laughter.

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WHILE SAWYER WAS PLAYING in his room, which he currently still had to share with Tessa, before he had to go to bed, Tessa was still taking care of the dishes in the sink. As she dried the last wet plate and was about to put it away, she heard heavy footsteps behind her.

Just a moment later, the plate was taken from her hand and Happy placed it in one of the high cupboards on top of the other, already clean plates, since Tessa was too small to reach that high anyway. And Happy had no more patience to watch her climb onto the kitchen counter every single time to put the dishes away.

The last thing he needed was her falling and breaking her neck.

"Thanks." Her voice was gentle and the smile that crossed her features made him smile too.

"No problem", he told her as he leaned against the kitchen counter, one foot crossed in front of the other as he crossed his arms, studying the young woman.

Every day he found it harder to take his eyes off her. None of the Croweaters could fully satisfy him anymore. Tessa's face constantly flashed before his eyes and ruined the whole act. Because instead of the cheap Croweaters, he wanted nothing more than to have her under him.

He wanted it to be her body writhing for him while his hand was buried in her hair, giving it a sharp tug. He wanted to hear his name fall from her lips as she moaned and begged him for more.

The pressure to stay away from her became almost unbearable. It was becoming  a challenge to continue treating her like family. Her father and his mother had been together, it was just wrong and that's what made it so much more interesting.

To distract himself from his thoughts, which were causing his pants to become quite tight around the crotch area, he cleared his throat and pointed to the box with the leftovers.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Something that really amazed him was Tessa's cooking skills. "Everything  you make tastes really good."

After staring at Happy for a little too long, which was nothing new, she smiled sheepishly at the praise. "My dad wasn't a very good cook, and he wasn't home most of the time, so I had to teach myself how to cook stuff."

The SAA frowned questioningly. "How did you do that? Weren't you alone with him since you were little?"

"Yes, I was", she nodded with a hum before hopping onto the counter, her legs dangling in the air once again today. "We lived in Albuquerque for a short time and we had a neighbor who taught me a few things. I think I was eight or nine then. She was really nice, unfortunately she was already old and, shortly before we moved again, she died."

"I'm sorry about that", he grunted, genuine compassion in his eyes. "You did good, Tessaᅳ and I mean everything. You should know that."

Amazed and, to be honest, a little speechless, Tessa looked at the man, who usually didn't say many words, especially not ones that could touch your heart deeply. No one had ever told her this before except Maria, which just showed how well she had raised her son.

"Why are you so nice to me, Happy?", she asked bluntly, her head tilted to the side as her fingers closed around the edge of the counter. "From what I've heard, you're not someone who shows much emotion and who is incredibly nice and accommodatingᅳ so, why are you doing all this for me?"

She watched with curiosity as Happy's body tensed, she could see how much by his changing position. The muscles in his clenched jaw twitched slightly as he shifted his gaze away from herᅳ and she gave him the time he needed to respond.

As she looked at him, carefully observing his facial features and posture, it dawned on herᅳ Gemma had been right, and not just her, but Lyla and Tara too. She was probably falling for him, and she definitely had tried to impress him, to show him that she was more than just a woman who got pregnant far too early and was now a nude model.

She wanted him to see the real her, what she was capable of and how loyal she was to people she cared about.

Nervousness spread through her body as Happy pushed his body off the counter and started  to pace the small room. Had her question been too personal? Had she pushed it too far? Shit, why did she have the talent to destroy everything she could get her hands on?

But before she could open her mouth to say something, Happy took two big steps towards her and stopped right in front of her. With his almost black eyes, he looked into hers, his gaze so intense that her breath got caught in her throat.

Reflexively, she spread her legs slightly as his jeans brushed her knees so that he could fit perfectly between them. His hands moved up her arms until he finally cupped her face in his hands, letting his forehead gently fall against hers.

"Because you do things to me that I have no idea how to explain, little girl",  he croaked against her plump, slightly parted lips as her breath came in soft gasps, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. "And it fuckin' annoys me, but at the same time I don't want, whatever this is, to stop."

She swallowed dryly, hoping to moisten her bone-dry throat. Instead, the lump in her throat only grew larger as his body nestled closer against hers, his thumb rubbing against her cheekbone while the other slid over her bottom lip.

Within seconds her shoulders were straightened and her back straight as she pressed her body closer to his so that not a single sheet of paper could fit between the two of them, her fingers clenched around his shirt. And all while Happy's and her eyes were locked.

There was definitely a crackle in the air, stronger than ever before.

Tessa tilted her chin up, ghosting her lips over his so lightly you could hardly call it a touch. A quiet, barely audible sigh fell from her lips as one of Happy's hands went to the back of her neck, his grip almost possessive.

"Please..", she purred against his lips, not caring if she sounded needyᅳ she wanted, no, she needed to feel his lips, to taste him. That's all she wanted in this moment.

word count; about 2.9k

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authors note; hey guys! Quick question, did y'all get the recent chapter update? I know a few did but the last chapter has half as many votes as usual and I was just wondering.

By the way, I decided to put a few stories in my drafts or delete them. For now I want to focus on my two favorite stories. This one here and WITCHES OF NEW ORLEANS. ANOTHER LOVE will still get updated, but the chapters will come slow, like they already do, lol. With the new guidelines I just want to make sure I don't make any mistakes when it comes to smut, violence and mental health topics because I really don't want my stories to get deleted. Don't worry, I'll still write those things, us writers just have to be a little more careful and that's kind of stressful because writing is supposed to be fun. So, two stories are enough for me at the moment. And I just want to give them my full attention. Thanks for reading this little rant. ❤️

Another question; what do y'all think about this story so far? Any wishes? 🥰