You thought life on the ranch was over. Couldn't bear the sight of Kayce anymore, so you fled all the way to Texas. You found a new relationship. You lived. You got a degree. But you missed Montana more than anything, but he wasn't leaving Texas. Now you're back on the ranch, and you and Kayce both lived your life. But that draw to him is still there, even if you're terrified to let those walls back down again. No matter how much you crave him.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
A/N: This fic will have themes of cheating, growing up and growing apart, second chance at love, possessiveness, shameless flirting, dating brother's boss, and of course smut. Read all warnings before each part. Minors DNI.
Believed the same man who broke my heart in January again and ended up hurt again. I feel so humiliated by my own heart again why can’t I just accept that he does not want me anymore?
Just watched the Marshals season finale and WTF??? It’s so good! But what do you mean I have to wait to find out?? Leaving us with that cliffhanger omg
Everybody is awful quiet about that Marshals season finale.
I really liked it. The longing looks Andrea threw towards Kayce. That once Kayce finds out the truth about Dolly’s dad, Dolly will be out of the picture for good.
Belle & Cal are definitely going to break work boundaries in Utah. Maddie extending an olive branch to Cal.
Miles is on desk duty so he’s making progress towards full reinstatement.
Shake The Frost - Chapter 3 (Kayce Dutton x Reader)
Summary: After Monica's death, Kayce had learned how to live with the silence. He thought he had his chance of love and that was it. As a US Marshal he knew how to protect a witness. What he didn't knew is how to let someone close again.
Authors Note: Sorry you guys had to wait so long! Writers block hit me like a brick but that’s over now! Your love definitely helped! If I forgot to add someone to the taglist or you want to be added let me know
You woke up disoriented for a moment before the last days came crashing back.
He was already in the kitchen as you stepped inside it.
“Sleep okay?”
You considered lying but then just said the truth.
“…Not really.”
He nodded once.
No follow-up question. No sympathy.
But he didn’t brush it off either.
“I’ll show you around outside later,” he said instead. “Safer if you know the layout.”
”Yeah, okay.“ you nodded.
He had made coffee and you took a mug.
He nodded towards the fridge
”You can take whatever you want. Don’t have to ask.“
You gave him a slight smile
”Okay. Thank you.“
You opened the fridge and looked up at him. It was almost empty.
He shrugged, looking almost sheepish.
”You can tell me what you need. Someone from my team will bring it over.“
After breakfast, Kayce moved to the small desk in the corner of the living room. A laptop. A stack of files. Paperwork.
You hovered for a moment before retreating back to the kitchen table with your own laptop.
Emails.
Deadlines.
You typed careful responses, vague and apologetic.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, delivery will be delayed.
You didn’t elaborate.
You edited a bit during the morning. Until you needed a break.
You wandered through the living room, not really snooping, just looking.
You stopped in front of the bookshelf. You stepped closer, scanning the spines.
A mix of things. Some older some new. A few novels, some that seemed to belong to his wife, some practical non fiction books
”Can I-?“ you gestured towards the shelf.
He glanced up from his phone.
”Yeah.“
You pulled one out and as your eyes noticed the framed photograph next on the shelf.
Kayce and what appeared to be his family.
Two younger men and a woman. Then you saw the older man.
”…Wait“
Kayce looked up
You turned towards him
”Dutton,“ you said slowly ”Like the governor?“
There was no accusation in your voice, no awe. Just realization.
”Yeah.“ Kayce answered ”That’s him.“
You looked back at the picture
”Huh.“
And that was all. No sudden shift in attitude.
”Didn’t connect that before.“
”I figured.“ he said.
”Does that happen a lot?“
”Not really. Most people knew my father around here, his ranch and all.“
You nodded
”But you’re from Missoula so you couldn’t have.“
Your head snapped up at that
”How-” you started before you realized ”You background checked me?“
He gave a nod ”Standard procedure. Just to make sure.“
You gave him a nod back then you held up the book slightly.
“I’m still taking this, by the way.”
That caught him off guard.
Almost a smile.
“You can,” he said.
The first few days passed in a slow slug of time. Days being the same, a looming threat of fear beyond every moment but at the same time much more boring than any action movie had shown. Kayce had shown you around his land. Tate had kept his distance. Kayce, while being present, too.
You were laying on the couch when he walked by, dressed in outdoor clothes.
”Where‘re you going?“ you asked.
”Feed the horses. Checking on the cattle after.“ he offered, and then after a moment ”wanna join?“
He got a bucket and filled it with grain. Then took another and filled it too, handing it to you.
"That one’s Tates. His name is Lucky.“ Kayce said when you petted one of the horses noses.
You smiled.
”I had a stuffed animal called Lucky when I was a kid.“
”Horse likes you.“ he said
”Probably knows I have food.“
He cracked a little smile at that
”Yeah, probably.“
He studied you for a moment, the way you felt comfortable around the animals, before asking
”Have you ridden before?“
You looked up at him.
”Yeah, kind of grew up around horses.“
He nodded. Then started working on feeding the horses again.
”Wanna go for a ride tomorrow?“ he asked
You smiled at that, the thought a pleasant change of routine.
”Am I allowed to do that?“
”I‘d be there.“
You nodded
”I‘d like that.“
The next morning didn’t felt as bleak as the ones before. You still felt out of place at this house but it was starting to get less weird.
Kayce was already out. You stepped outside a few minutes after him, pulling your jacket tighter around you.
Kayce was already by the fence, two horses saddled.
He moved easily around them, checking straps, adjusting something.
He handed you the reins of the lighter horse.
“Her name’s Dusty.”
You ran your hand lightly along her neck.
She leaned into it just slightly.
“Hey, girl,” you murmured.
Kayce watched that.
Not the horse.
You.
“You weren’t lying,” he said.
You glanced up.
“About?”
“Being comfortable around them.”
Because he could see the change in you. You didn’t seem as lost, not as scared anymore.
Less a person hiding out.
He nodded once.
Then swung up onto his own horse with practiced ease.
You followed a second later.
You rode side by side at first.
Not talking.
Just the sound of hooves against dirt.
On the land it felt more peaceful, more free.
Or maybe it just felt that way because you weren’t thinking about it as much.
Kayce rode a little ahead now, his posture loose but aware, like he never fully switched off.
You watched him for a second.
Then glanced out across the open stretch to your right.
Flat enough.
Clear.
Your fingers tightened slightly on the reins.
“You ever not take the safe option?” you called over.
He glanced back at you.
“I rarely take the safe option. But whatever you’re thinking; no.“
You tilted your head, a small challenge already forming.
A beat.
Then:
“Race you.”
The words hung in the air.
Kayce slowed his horse slightly.
Turned just enough to look at you properly.
“That’s not a good idea.”
That only made your smile grow.
“Why? You scared?”
A pause.
That did it.
Not in the way you expected, not ego, not irritation.
Something quieter.
Something that looked almost like curiosity.
“You don’t know this land,” he said.
“I know how to ride.”
Another beat.
Then.
“Stay on that line,” he said, nodding toward a clear stretch ahead. “No turns. No dips.”
You followed his gaze.
Measured it.
Then looked back at him.
“Okay.”
He watched you for half a second longer.
Like he was making a decision.
“On three.” He said.
Your grip adjusted instinctively.
Your body already leaning forward slightly.
“Three?”
“You said race.”
“Fine.”
A pause.
“One.”
Your pulse picked up.
“Two-”
You didn’t wait.
You kicked forward just before he hit three.
The horse surged beneath you, fast and smooth, the ground rushing past in a blur of color and movement.
Wind hit your face, sharp and alive.
Behind you you heard him.
Closer than you expected.
You laughed, actually laughed, as you leaned into it, giving the horse just a little more.
For a moment there was nothing else.
No case.
No danger.
No watching eyes.
Just speed.
Freedom.
Control.
You risked a glance sideways
He was right there.
Of course he was.
Effortless.
Controlled even at this pace.
But there was something different now.
Not just focus.
Something lighter.
You pushed just a little more.
The line ahead coming up fast.
Then you slowed, pulling back smoothly, breath catching as the horse eased down beneath you.
Kayce slowed beside you a second later.
Silence except for the sound of both horses settling.
Your chest rose and fell quickly, adrenaline still buzzing under your skin.
You looked at him.
”I won.“ you grinned
“You cheated.” He grinned back.
You let out a breath of a laugh.
“You said on three. I went on instinct.”
“That’s not how counting works.”
You shrugged.
“Worked for me.”
He shook his head slightly but there it was again.
That almost-smile.
Less restrained this time.
“You could’ve gotten hurt.”
“Didn’t.”
A beat.
His gaze held yours for a second longer than before.
Measuring.
But not pulling away.
“No,” he said quietly. “You didn’t.”
The ride back was slower.
The energy settling, but not gone.
You rolled your shoulders slightly, exhaling.
“Damn,” you said, more to yourself than to him.
“I needed that.”
Your voice was softer now.
You glanced at him briefly.
“Thank you.”
Kayce didn’t answer right away.
He just looked ahead for a second.
Finally he said
“Yeah,”.
But it wasn’t dismissive.
It was understanding.
A few steps later he spoke again
“You don’t seem like someone who scares easy,” he added.
You huffed quietly.
“I do.”
He glanced at you.
You kept your eyes forward.
”You’re braver than you give yourself credit for.“ he said.
”I’ve worked multiple cases and you are holding up better than others.“
”Still probably worse than some.“
He nodded
”If you weren’t at least a little scared about the situation you’re in you’d be stupid.“
You looked at him.
By the time you reached the house, the horses had settled back into an easy pace. Conversation had been easier on the way back, as if you two had finally settled around the other.
He had asked a few questions about your growing up and you had felt more relaxed around him.
You swung down first this time, boots hitting the ground a little harder than necessary. Your fingers ran through your hair, pushing it back as you exhaled.
“Okay,” you muttered under your breath, more to yourself than anyone else. “Yeah… that was a good idea.”
Kayce dismounted a second later.
He took the reins from your hands.
“I’ll take care of them,” he said.
You nodded.
“Okay.”
But you didn’t move right away.
There was still that leftover energy between you.
You leaned back slightly against the fence, watching as he worked. The way he moved around the horses familiar, precise, calm.
You hadn’t noticed it this closely before.
Or maybe you just hadn’t been looking.
A quiet settled again.
But it wasn’t the same as before.
It felt… closer.
You pushed yourself off the fence.
“I should probably-” you gestured vaguely toward the house, “-shower.”
You turned toward the porch then paused.
Looked back at him.
He was already watching you.
“Hey,” you said, a little softer now.
“Yeah?”
A small pause.
“Thanks.” you gestured back toward the land, the ride, the open space, “For that.”
Sitting on Jax's lap.
It starts because there's no where else to sit. It's a bit awkward at first and then over the course of the evening it becomes comfortable.
Eventually, over months, you start sitting on Jax's lap all the time, even when there are seats available. The Samcro boys give you guys so much shit.
When a girl starts flirting with him, the normal, you go to sit with someone else. Jax follows like a lost puppy.
The first time you sat on Jax Teller’s lap, it was purely accidental.
At least, that’s what you told yourself.
The clubhouse was packed shoulder-to-shoulder that night. Loud music rattled the walls, bottles clinked together behind the bar, and the entire main room smelled like beer, cigarettes, leather, and grease. SAMCRO had just finished handling some run two counties over, and everyone was in a rare good mood.
Which meant chaos.
Half the charter was drunk already.
Happy was winning money off prospects with some card game nobody else fully understood.
Chibs was arguing with Tig over Scottish versus American whiskey.
And Gemma had claimed the couch like a queen guarding her throne.
You arrived late after your shift at the garage, exhausted and starving, only to discover there wasn’t a single empty seat left in the room.
“Aw, sweetheart,” Tig called immediately when he saw you scanning the room. “You snooze, you lose.”
“You’re in my seat,” you shot back.
“There are no assigned seats.”
“You say that every time somebody steals your chair.”
“That’s different.”
You rolled your eyes and moved farther into the room, trying to ignore how everyone suddenly looked entirely too interested in where you were going to sit.
The problem with SAMCRO was that once they noticed something, they became vultures about it.
“Sit on the floor,” Happy offered.
“You sit on the floor.”
“I am on the floor.”
You looked down.
He was.
Cross-legged.
Like some terrifying tattooed monk.
Before you could respond, Jax Teller looked up from where he sat in the armchair near the bar, beer bottle balanced against his thigh.
“C’mere.”
Simple as that.
You blinked. “Where?”
A faint smirk tugged at his mouth.
“Use your context clues, sweetheart.”
Several heads immediately turned.
“Oh, shit,” Juice muttered under his breath.
You narrowed your eyes. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Little bit.”
There really wasn’t anywhere else to sit.
And honestly, you and Jax had always existed in each other’s space naturally anyway. You’d known him for years. He stole your fries. You stole his hoodies. You patched up his knuckles when he got reckless. Somewhere along the line, affection had become second nature.
Still—
His lap?
In front of everyone?
Your hesitation must’ve shown because his expression softened slightly.
“Ain’t a big deal.”
That somehow made it worse.
Because suddenly you were very aware that it could become a big deal.
You tried to act casual as you crossed the room.
“You’re all assholes,” you muttered to the others.
“Correct,” Chibs answered cheerfully.
Jax shifted slightly, one hand bracing against the arm of the chair to give you space.
The second you lowered yourself carefully onto his thigh, the entire room went silent for one dramatic beat.
Then:
“OHHHHH, SHIT!”
You closed your eyes immediately.
“Jesus Christ,” you groaned.
Tig nearly fell off the couch laughing.
“Look at his FACE,” Juice wheezed.
“What?” Jax snapped automatically.
“That’s the softest expression I’ve ever seen on a human being,” Opie muttered into his beer.
Jax flipped him off without looking away from you.
And unfortunately?
They were right.
Because the moment you settled against him, instinct kicked in.
His arm slid automatically around your waist to steady you.
Firm.
Warm.
Protective.
Like it belonged there.
Your stomach did a weird little flip.
You were suddenly hyperaware of everything.
How broad he was beneath you.
The heat of him through denim.
The way his fingers rested against your hip absentmindedly.
“You good?” he murmured quietly near your ear.
“Yeah.”
Your voice came out embarrassingly soft.
He smiled slightly.
And somehow that made it easier.
Conversation resumed around you after that, though the occasional smirk still got thrown your way. But after ten minutes, the awkwardness started fading.
After twenty, you stopped sitting so rigidly.
After forty-five, you leaned back against his chest without thinking about it.
Jax’s fingers tapped lazily against your side while he talked business with Chibs.
At some point you stole his beer.
He didn’t complain.
At another point his chin briefly brushed your shoulder when he leaned closer to hear you over the music.
Neither of you moved away.
By the end of the night, you’d forgotten entirely that you were sitting on his lap.
Unfortunately, everyone else remembered.
“Jesus,” Tig said as you finally stood to leave. “They nested.”
“Like fucking lovebirds,” Juice agreed.
“More like a stray dog that followed Jax home,” Happy added.
Jax snorted.
You pointed at all of them accusingly. “You’re the reason women avoid bikers.”
“We’re charming.”
“You’re emotionally illiterate.”
“Also true.”
Jax watched you the whole time you argued with them, smiling into his beer like he couldn’t help it.
It happened again three days later.
Then the next week.
Then constantly.
At first it was always circumstantial.
No room at the bar.
No free chair during church prep.
Packed booth at the diner.
But eventually?
You stopped pretending.
Sometimes there were three empty seats available and you still walked straight toward Jax automatically.
And every single time, without fail, he spread his knees slightly to make room for you before you even reached him.
Like muscle memory.
Like instinct.
The club noticed.
God, did they notice.
“You know chairs exist, right?” Chibs asked one afternoon while you sat sideways across Jax’s lap eating fries off his plate.
“They do,” you answered.
“So why are ye sittin’ there?”
You shrugged. “Comfort.”
Jax’s hand rubbed slowly up and down your thigh absentmindedly while he read paperwork.
Nobody missed it.
Tig looked physically pained by how disgustingly domestic the two of you had become.
“You guys are revolting.”
“You cry during Disney movies,” you reminded him.
“That is unrelated.”
“You cried during Finding Nemo.”
“He LOST HIS SON.”
Jax laughed against your shoulder.
The sound vibrated through you warm and low.
And maybe that was part of the problem.
Because sitting with Jax became easy in a way nothing else was.
You fit together strangely well.
His hands always found you naturally.
Your body relaxed around him automatically.
There was never hesitation anymore.
You’d curl into him during long nights at the clubhouse while he talked business.
Sometimes his chin rested on your shoulder.
Sometimes your fingers played with the rings on his hand absentmindedly.
Sometimes he’d arrive late, exhausted from a run, and the first thing he’d do was sit down and tug you into his lap like he needed the contact.
Nobody said anything during those moments.
Not even the guys.
Because underneath all the teasing, everyone could see it.
You made Jax softer.
And Jax made you feel safe.
The girl appeared six months after the first lap incident.
Blonde.
Tiny shorts.
Too much perfume.
The type that walked into the clubhouse already looking for attention.
She spotted Jax almost immediately.
Which wasn’t unusual.
Women flirted with him constantly.
You normally ignored it.
But tonight was different.
Because she didn’t just flirt.
She touched.
Hands on his shoulders.
Fingers trailing down his arm.
Leaning into him while she laughed too loudly at things that weren’t funny.
You were sitting beside him on the couch at first.
Not on him.
Just close.
But suddenly you felt weirdly out of place.
Which was stupid.
You and Jax weren’t together.
Not officially.
Even if everyone treated you like you were.
Still—
Something ugly twisted in your chest watching her smile at him like that.
So before the feeling could get worse, you stood quietly.
Jax glanced up immediately.
“Where you goin’?”
“Nowhere,” you answered lightly. “Need another drink.”
But instead of coming back to him, you crossed the room and dropped into the empty seat beside Chibs.
The table went weirdly silent.
Because everybody noticed.
Especially Jax.
The blonde blinked at the sudden shift in his attention.
“You were saying?” she purred.
He barely looked at her.
His eyes stayed on you across the room.
You were laughing at something Chibs said now, but it sounded forced even to your own ears.
Jax frowned slightly.
Then the girl touched his chest.
“You wanna get outta here later?”
“No.”
She blinked. “No?”
“No,” he repeated distractedly.
Then he stood up entirely.
Actually stood up.
And walked away from her mid-conversation.
The entire clubhouse erupted instantly.
“OH MY GOD,” Juice screamed.
“She got dumped in real time!”
Tig was choking laughing.
The blonde looked furious.
Meanwhile Jax crossed the room directly toward you like he was being physically pulled there.
You looked up as he stopped beside your chair.
“What’re you doing over here?”
You blinked innocently. “Sitting.”
“Yeah, no shit.”
Chibs immediately got up. “Actually, I need another drink.”
“You just got one.”
“Aye. Tragic.”
He disappeared before either of you could stop him.
Leaving only one chair.
Yours.
Jax looked at it.
Then at you.
Then finally said, quieter this time:
“C’mere.”
Your heart stumbled.
“You have a seat.”
“Don’t want it.”
The room had gone suspiciously attentive again.
You narrowed your eyes slightly. “Jax—”
“Baby,” he interrupted softly, “get over here.”
The endearment hit like a gunshot.
Dead silence filled the clubhouse.
Happy actually looked up from his knife.
Your face burned instantly.
Jax seemed to realize what he’d said about half a second too late.
But instead of taking it back—
His expression just softened.
You stood slowly.
Walked toward him slowly.
And the second you settled onto his lap again, his arms wrapped around your waist so tightly it almost felt desperate.
Like he’d been off-balance the entire three minutes you were gone.
The boys lost their minds.
“There they are!”
“Nature is healing!”
“Took Romeo long enough!”
“Somebody kiss somebody already,” Tig shouted.
You buried your burning face against Jax’s shoulder immediately while he laughed quietly into your hair.
But his grip on you never loosened.
Not once.
And later that night, long after the music died down and most of the clubhouse stumbled home drunk, you were still curled in Jax’s lap when he finally tilted your chin upward gently.
“You jealous?”
You opened your mouth immediately. “No.”
His grin widened.
“Liar.”
“She was hanging all over you.”
“She was,” he agreed.
Your stomach twisted again.
Then he brushed his thumb softly along your jaw.
“But I spent the whole time waitin’ for you to come back.”
The air disappeared from your lungs.
Jax’s eyes searched yours carefully.
“You know why?”
You shook your head slightly.
“Because every place else feels wrong now.”
Your heart nearly stopped.
And judging by the way he looked at you after saying it?
His might’ve too.
When he kissed you, finally, the entire world seemed to settle into place around it.
Soft at first.
Careful.
Like both of you were realizing this had been inevitable for a very long time.
Then your fingers slid into his hair and he made this low sound against your mouth that nearly melted you alive.
Somewhere across the clubhouse, Tig yelled:
“FUCKIN’ FINALLY!”
Neither of you even looked up.
Especially not when Jax pulled you closer into his lap like he intended to keep you there permanently.
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