ABC/DISNEY owns GH. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 3
Liz smiled at the guard who opened the door for her. The fact that there was someone standing post spoke volumes. Jason didn't normally have a security detail, it was something that irritated Francis. Their friend wasn't quiet about that either. "Hi." Her guy was standing by the pool table. While she watched he put down his cue and walked over.
"Hi." Jason was smiling by the time he reached her. She always did that for him. Whenever they were together he always felt a sense of peace. It wasn't something he had been looking for in a girlfriend, but he got why it was important. She gave him a place where he didn't have to constantly live up to his reputation. If he wanted to hang out at the house in sweats she was good with that. For the first time he was with a woman who was attracted to the man he was and not what he did.
"Hi." Liz leaned up and kissed him. "I'm glad you are home." They weren't planning on meeting up until later in the week, but she liked knowing he was close by. She swore she could feel the moment he left for New York.
"I'm glad I'm home too." Jason wrapped his arms around his girl and urged her forward so the small space between them was erased. He was hoping to figure out a way for them to bump into one another before they were planning to meet. They were known to be friends, to see them talking in the park wouldn't be that surprising. A casual friendship would not turn her into a target. A romantic relationship did. Still he didn't want to give her up, and she felt the same. "Especially since the city is plunging into chaos. I wouldn't have liked the thought of you home alone during this." It had already made the statewide news.
"I was hoping to stay at the hospital. Dr. Ford sent your mother over to tell me I had to go." Liz said trying not to roll her eyes. "Then Johnny told me I was staying at the Towers, for which I gave him attitude." Her friend wouldn't have ratted her out, but Liz didn't keep secrets from Jason. "I didn't want to sleep in his place, and I knew if I didn't then I would have probably ended up at Frannie's place."
"You could have stayed here." Jason told her. She had unrestricted access to the penthouse even if he wasn't home.
"That would have felt odd." Liz moved out of his arms so she could put her bag down. Being that close to Jason had her whole body on alert. It was so complex the way he made her feel. Sometime she felt like she was being taken under by a huge wave that left her disoriented in its wake. At the same time she felt like everything finally made sense. Like she was right where she should be. "I've never stayed over and the first time I would want you here."
Liz and Nadine had a running gag between them. They both liked to say they were card carrying members of the ninety day club. They didn't sleep with a guy they were dating until the relationship hit the three month mark. If the person they were seeing was just in it for sex, he wasn't going to want to wait that long. Not when there were other women out there willing to move faster. Liz had told Jason when they first started dating she wasn't rushing into his bed. He never went back on his promise that he respected that.
"Now you don't have to worry about feeling strange." Jason didn't move from the spot he was standing in. He was still trying to get his body to relax. Having her so close had left him hard. It was common occurrence any time he touched her. He wanted Elizabeth, she knew that. Just like he knew that he had an effect on her when they were close. However she said she needed time, and he would give it to her. What made it easier to bear was that he liked talking to Elizabeth. She was smart, funny, and informed about the world around her. They also had things in common. Which meant they had plenty they could do out of bed. For the first time he felt like he was dating an equal. "I'm here."
"Yeah, you are." Liz smiled at him. She was pretty sure that she was going to be staying in Jason's room tonight. With him. She was also almost one hundred percent positive they wouldn't just be sleeping. They had been dating sixty-four days, and it looked like the wait was over. Her decision was helped by knowing that if all she wanted to do was sleep then Jason would respect that. For the first time she felt like the man she was going to share her body with, was just that. A man.
With his body back under control Jason walked over to where she was standing. Her big blue eyes showed everything she was feeling. He could see that she was nervous, but not afraid. When she bit her lower lip he almost groaned out loud. He had no idea why that motion made him so hot, yet whenever she did it he couldn't look away if he wanted to. "I'll take your bag upstairs. I thought we'd play some pool so you could relax before we turn in."
"That would be nice." Liz responded smiling. She was nervous, the first time you slept with someone there were a lot of things that could go wrong. Being tense would ensure things were not enjoyable. Liz was hoping to do better in the sex department this go round, namely because it had to be better then what she had experienced. Otherwise folks wouldn't kill for it.
She wasn't going to bring her college boyfriend into this line of thought. They had both been new to sex so him having trouble making her climax was understandable. It was the next two guys that made Liz question whether or not there was something wrong with her physically because those fireworks she had been expecting weren't showing up.
After breaking up with her last guy Liz had gone to talk to Kelly. They did an exam, which didn't show any physical abnormalities. So the ob/gyn told Liz to go home and have fun with the shower head. Yes Kelly was laughing when she said it. Then to report back. Liz had no problems on her own, so Kelly declared her fit. Then the doctor got serious and pulled out some science saying that some women didn't climax during intercourse, or with a partner. She suspected Liz had selfish lovers, because if you were with the right guy they made sure you crossed the finish line. One way or the other. Liz was thinking Jason to show her what the fuss was about.
"Where would you like to stay?" Jason was going to give her a choice. "I have a really nice guest room, or you can stay in my room. With me." He had no intention of sleeping on the couch. Even without sex he wanted to experience a night with her in his arms.
"I'd like to stay in your room. With you." Liz said smiling slowly. She got what he did there and appreciated it. Also for some reason Liz was thinking that he wanted to give a choice now because he planned on being in charge in the bedroom. Not dominate per se, but that he liked to make the first move.
"Good." Jason smiled wide. "I understand the word no." He said keeping his eyes on her. "I need you to know that you'll be safe with me." It wasn't really something that Jason had given much thought to, what it meant for a woman to join him in his room until one night he found Elizabeth crying on the docks. She couldn't give him details but she had been in the ER when a young rape victim had been brought in. Somethings that happen at the hospital were harder for her to shake then others, this was one. They weren't dating at that point, but the attraction was starting to make itself know.
The talk they had that night made him reevaluate how he interacted with women. He'd never forced himself on a woman, but he also wanted to make sure they understood he respected them. With Elizabeth that need was even more pressing. Scaring her was not something he ever wanted to do.
"Thank you, I never worry about you hurting me." Liz wanted him to know. "I'll come up with you because I'd like to shower. Normally I get clean before I leave work, but the guys were waiting." She was ready to ditch the scrubs. She was also applauding her good choice of wearing the jeans that made her butt look good into work.
He held out his hand and took her upstairs. In the countless times she had been over Elizabeth hadn't ever been upstairs. Like downstairs there wasn't a lot of furniture. A massive bed with a matching nightstand on each side were the only pieces in the room. Even what would be the seating area in front of the fireplace was empty. He was actually blushing when she looked at him.
"I keep telling myself to go to the store and get more furniture." He knew the place was empty. Having her over was why he finally got a table for the kitchen. Normally he just ate at the coffee table or on the terrace in nice weather. The outdoor patio space had furniture on it when he moved in.
"I like your place." Liz wasn't going to let him put himself down. "You have everything that's necessary."
"Let me get you a towel." Jason put down her bag and went into the bathroom. "Anything you need should be in here. Do you have a toothbrush?"
"Yeah, I grabbed mine." Liz looked in the supply closet. "You shop in bulk?" She asked trying not to laugh. The man had enough soap for the next three years.
"I ordered from the company we get the soap and toilet paper for the bathrooms of the businesses we own." Jason gave her a boyish grin. "They even deliver."
She gave up and laughed. "I like the way you smell." He blushed again. He didn't wear cologne so the light scent was a mixture of the soap and his natural scent. "So there will be no complaining from me."
"Good to know." Jason grabbed a towel and handed it over. "I'll be downstairs when you're done. Have you eaten?"
"I got a dinner break." Liz let him know.
"Okay." Jason leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss. "Come down when you're ready."
Liz just nodded and when he closed the door she gave a small giggle. "I'm so done." She said walking over to the shower and setting the water.
On the other side of the door Jason was grinning wide. "Stick a fork in me." He had no idea he was echoing his girlfriend's thoughts. He would go downstairs and get an update while he waited for her to join him.
"Can you talk about it?" Liz was standing in the doorway that led to the terrace. Jason was standing by the cement railing looking down on the street below. Noise wouldn't reach this high up, but normally you could see the cars and such. With no lights in the city he would be looking into darkness. Something was wrong. She could tell by the set of his shoulders.
"We don't know where Sonny is." Jason turned to face her. "I'm worried he is about to start a war."
Liz walked over until she was standing in front of him. "Say it." Her eyes were on his. "You're safe with me Jason, and you can say it."
"I'm worried that Sonny is not going to come out of this alive." Jason didn't want it to come that. Since Michael had been shot things between the friends had been tense. So tense that Jason was considering dissolving their partnership once this was over. Having Elizabeth in his life meant he didn't want to be running around shooting at people. He wanted things to be stable so he could take her out on dates. Sonny threatened that, he threatened the life Jason wanted for himself. "Maximus sent his enforcer to straighten this situation out. Shawn has been told to make sure this will not be an issue going forward, and he will eliminate whoever he has to, to fulfill his orders."
"Are you in danger?" Liz could care less about Sonny.
"No." Jason shook his head. "Just because we are partners doesn't mean we are automatically lumped together. Shawn is very good at what he does and he was looking into this before we had our meeting. He knows this started with Sonny and Anthony. Shawn also knows they are the ones who are fanning the flames. Claudia wasn't helping things, but, she's no longer an issue." Maximus had someone meet her plane when it landed. She hadn't been seen since.
"What can I do for you?" Liz wanted to know.
"Can you take some time off from the hospital?" Jason wouldn't normally interfere in her day to day life unless he had to. "I want to give you a guard and they can't go to work with you." Which meant Dr. Ford needed to go. If she wanted to be at the hospital then Jason was going to make that happen.
"I'm off for the next two days anyway. If you need more time, I'll put in for emergency leave. If I don't get it, I'll quit." Liz was placing her trust in him without hesitation. She had been considering going for a nurse practitioner certification, if she left the hospital she could go to school before returning to work.
"I'll try to see to it that it doesn't come to that." Jason told his girlfriend. "Once we take this step, going public, we can't go back."
"I'm ready for that." Liz assured him. "All in." She said using the poker term.
"Thank you." Jason said leaning forward and taking her mouth in deep kiss. "I love you Elizabeth." He wanted her to say those words to her before they went up to his room. He was pretty sure she already knew, but he wanted there to be no doubt.
Her smile was bright enough to light up the city. "I love you too." She had just been waiting for the right time to tell him. She tried to show him when they were together, but having the freedom to voice it was everything. "Let's play some pool and then go to bed." He needed to relax.
"Okay." Jason was grateful for her love, but even more so for her acceptance.
"Can I borrow a shirt when we get upstairs? I don't have any pajamas." She said racking the balls. "You can break." Her grin was a bit wicked because there was no way he could concentrate now.
"I won." Liz said putting down her pool cue. It wasn't that surprising because she'd beaten him before. Liz could hold her own in the game. Also he was distracted. Some of it was the situation with his former best friend, and current partner. Most of it was her.
"You did." Jason had spent more time watching his girlfriend than paying attention to the game. When they played each other he had to concentrate because she was really good. If you gave her an opening, which he did, she would bury you. "Would you like to play again?"
"No. I think I'd like to go to bed now." Liz said putting her cue stick away. "How does that sound?"
"I'm ready to go upstairs." Jason walked over to his front door and flipped the deadbolt. "I have to leave my phone on."
"If you have to go I'll understand." Liz let him know. "There will be nights where I have to leave for an emergency surgery." She held out her hand. Neither one of them worked traditional hours. "Let's go to bed and put the day behind us."
He linked their fingers and led the way to his room.
Thanks for the reviews!
