AN:

Wow. My butt needs a schedule. I am beyond sorry about the long wait. I am however happier with the smut this time around. I think.

You'll probably recognize parts of this chapter. I used some dialog from the show.

Enjoy!

Chapter Six

"How was dinner?" Ric asked as they finished eating.

"Delicious. Thank you." Elizabeth said before giving him a quick kiss.

"Are you done?" Ric asked when Elizabeth began picking at her food. Elizabeth was still in the robe she put on after her shower. The simple white terry cloth was teasing him. He wanted her. Now.

"Almost. Why?" Elizabeth asked turning to look at her husband.

"I want you," Ric said echoing her earlier words to him. "And I would much rather have you in our bed. Not that the couch wasn't nice." He said running his hand inside the robe and up her thigh.

"In that case I'm done." In an instant, Ric had picked her up and was heading for their bedroom. "Ric! Put me down. You're going to drop me."

"Never." Ric said shaking his head. "You're too important to me."

Elizabeth giggled when Ric tossed her on the bed. She loved that they could be like this together. Elizabeth sat up and reached for Ric's pants. He had left them partially undone leaving on the zipper. The metallic sound filled the room. She pushed Ric's pants down his hips slightly surprised that he had for gone his boxers as well. She stroked his hardening shaft causing him to moan loudly. Her tongue flicked over the wide head collecting the liquid seeping out.

Ric's hands buried themselves in her hair. Her warm mouth closed around him sending waves of pleasure through his body. Elizabeth moved his shaft in and out her mouth sucking gently. Ric closed his eyes tight as she pleasured him. He could feel his body tighten as he neared completion. "No." Ric said pulling her up and off him. "I need to be inside you when I come."

His mouth crashed into hers their tongues dueling for control. Elizabeth's robe hit the floor at the same time her back hit the cool sheets. Ric settled himself between her parted legs. Sliding one hand up to caress her center. Her wetness quickly coated his fingers. Ric moved his hand up to her breast kneading the creamy globe. He rolled her stiff peak between two fingers. He slowly eased into her entrance as he planted hot kisses to her neck.

They moved slowly together almost as if they were one body, one soul. Their hands and lips explored relearning how to pleasure each other. As their passions grew so did the strength and speed of Ric's thrusts. Elizabeth raised her hips meeting each one. Ric could feel the light fluttering of her walls pushing him closer to release. "That's it sweetheart. Just let go." Ric whispered encouragingly.

Elizabeth cried out as she exploded into a thousand pieces. Ric thrusted twice more before spilling his hot seed deep in her womb. He collapsed on top of her completely spent. "That was incredible." She whispered her hands running through his short dark hair.

"It always is when we're together." Ric asserted gently. He kissed her deeply before rolling them over. Most of the time he forgot how small Elizabeth was compared to him. The only time he was acutely aware was when they made love. The thought of hurting her scared him. Elizabeth curled up against his right side. Ric smiled at the familiarity. It was surprised Ric that in such a short time they had developed a routine. He ran his hand across her back until they both slowly fell asleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ric woke suddenly from his nightmare. He quickly realized where he was and took several deep breaths. 'It was just a dream.' He repeated over and over. Ric ran his hand over Elizabeth's back as she slept peacefully. It was surprising she was still asleep. Ric kissed the top of her head and eased away. He pulled on his discarded cloths and went outside.

The cool air immediately helped clear Ric's mind. This nightmare had caught him off guard. He thought after putting aside his plans that the dreams would stop. If anything, they got worse.

Ric didn't know what to do. There was no way he could lose Elizabeth. The life they had was something he never expected. However, he wasn't willing to give it up. That meant Ric had to figure out a way to deal with his problems with Sonny.

"Not the image of a suburban husband relaxing on the porch." Faith told Ric calmly as she approached him.

"You're timing gets worse and worse. You know that?" Ric was still breathing heavily from his nightmare. The last thing he was Faith playing on his fears. "Why are you even here?"

"I... I'm just here to offer you a little warning. Sonny is on the war path." She told him an odd mixture of concern and glee in her voice.

He ran his hands through his hair in an attempt to calm himself. "No. Sonny called a truce." Ric said turning away from her.

"Well I hate to be the one to break it to you but your big brother lied. He just threatened to kill me if I didn't spy on you. Listen to me. He is convinced you are still plotting to get him."

The corners on Ric's mouth twitched. He had been planning against Sonny. It seems his brother was either smarter or more paranoid than he thought. "Where did he get that idea?"

"Apparently he's not too fond of you talking to his wife. Or maybe that's just an excuse. Maybe he never planned to make peace with you at all. Maybe he wants to destroy you like you wanted to do to him."

"Yeah? Well what does he want you to do?" Ric asked uncertainly. He did not want to believe Faith but there was a small chance she could be telling him the truth.

"He told me to get close to you and find out what you were up to. So listen to me. Keep an eye on Elizabeth. He already caused one accident. He's not going to stop there."

The moment she brought up Elizabeth was the moment he stopped believing her. There was no way Ric would ever believe Faith was concerned about Elizabeth's welfare. "You hate Elizabeth. I mean if she was in any danger you wouldn't come here to warn me if Sonny was going to hurt her."

"Stop it. This is about hurting you. Don't you get it? He will come at you anyway he can. Now I could have spied on you like he said but I am warning you. I am risking my life to warn you." Faith said firmly as she moved closed to Ric.

Ric took a step back. He wanted nothing more to do with Faith. She was threat to everyone she came in to contact with. He has to wonder what Sonny was thinking. "Why? Out of the goodness of your heart?"

"I don't want you killed. Now Elizabeth is useless. She cannot help you protect yourself. I on the other hand I could save you. I could..." Faith said her voice dropping an octave and her hand coming up to Ric's cheek.

Ric pulled her arm away and at the same time took a step back. He dropped Faith's arm as if it burned. "Just go away." Ric said his voice soft but emotionless. He walked past her and to the front door.

"You are in no position to do this. To turn away an ally. Not when Sonny hates you. He will not stop until you are wrecked or dead."

The desperation in Faith's voice caught his attention. For some reason she needed him to believe her, to trust her. He wouldn't though. Ric had learned his lesson the last time. "Stay away from me and from Elizabeth."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I don't know I just can't tell." Elizabeth said staring at the painting Ric had just hung. "What do you think?"

"I think it's perfect."

"I think we need to put it on another wall." Elizabeth disagreed a light teasing tone in her voice. The few days had been much better. It was as if some dark cloud had been lifted. They were both more relaxed. Ric knew that putting his plan aside had something do with it.

"Anything you say." Ric said shaking his head. He knew better than to argue with his wife about art.

A soft knocked interrupted them. Elizabeth said already halfway across the room. "I'll get it." When she opened the door, Elizabeth was surprised to see Sonny standing there.

"Hi, Elizabeth. How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright." Elizabeth said slowly. She stood there blocking the door for several moments before asking. "What are you doing here Sonny?"

"I just need to see Ric."

"He doesn't want to cause any trouble for you Sonny." Elizabeth told the older man. She was worried that Sonny was here to hurt Ric in some way.

"I just need to ask him something." Sonny told Elizabeth in an attempt to reassure her. "Can I come in?"

"Sure." Elizabeth said opening the door wider.

Ric panicked slightly when he saw Sonny standing there. He had no idea why the older man would show up like this. "What are you doing here?"

"I just need to ask you something."

"Alright." Ric said hesitantly.

"You might not be interested in what..." Sonny started before Ric cut him off.

"No, it's okay. She can stay in the room." Ric told him firmly. He wasn't going to let anyone make Elizabeth feel as if she was nothing. Not anymore.

"Okay. You used to work for Luis Alcazar. He put you in prison."

Ric glanced at Elizabeth before answering. She had stiffened at Sonny's words. They had never really talked about this and to be honest he did not want her to know. He was not proud of the things he had done before coming to Port Charles. "Yeah. But that was a long time ago."

"Did Alcazar work alone or with a partner?"

"He's dead. What does it matter?" Ric asked after a moment. The sudden question had thrown him.

"Alone or with a partner?" Sonny repeated.

"Alone." Ric replied automatically.

"Did he have family?"

"I really don't know." Ric said still confused by Sonny's choice of questions.

"Did he have a wife?"

"I really wasn't that close to him, Sonny." Ric said slightly frustrated. He was getting close to losing his temper and right now, all he wanted was for Sonny to leave.

"Where did he spend most of his time? Aside from the yacht?"

"Everywhere." Ric replied with a deep sigh.

"Okay. Ric I need you to be more specific."

Ric took a deep breath before replying. "The mountains."

"The mountains?"

"Yeah."

"Like South America?" Sonny asked wanting to get as much information as he could from Ric.

"Yeah. He used to take his private jet there sometimes."

Sonny seemed to think about the information before saying, "Okay. Thanks."

"Why do you need to know all this?" Ric questioned. If someone was avenging Luis Alcazar, it meant Elizabeth could be in danger.

"It's probably nothing." Sonny said dismissing him. "I'm glad you're feeling better." Sonny told Elizabeth sincerely before walking out.

"What was that all about?" Elizabeth asked sitting on one of the sofas.

"Who cares? At least he's gone." Ric said trying to put Sonny out of his thoughts. He sat beside Elizabeth and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm really glad you were able to help him." She said her head coming to rest on his chest. Ric ran his hand through her silky hair. He could feel her shaking and wondered why.

"Me too. And why shouldn't I be? After all the vendetta is over. He has his life and I have mine with you." Ric said trying to reassure Elizabeth that things were over between him and Sonny. "You know I'll do anything to make you happy."

"I love you." Elizabeth smiled softly. Ric had this amazing way of calming all her fears. She was the happiest she had ever been and she didn't think anything could ruin it.