Bikes, Cars, and Submarines

Chapter 6

~Ruins~

"I have been told that this is your butt phone." Elizabeth held the cell out to him.

"So does that mean yes?" After his outburst a few minutes ago she had looked at him for the longest time before moving away from him to stare at nothing. When she finally came back, she took his phone from his pocket and called Emily.

"I wouldn't subject myself to an afternoon of shopping with Emily if it wasn't a yes."

Jason smiled, the first real one in over a week. "I'm glad." He caught her hand and drew her to him.

"Did you ever doubt it?" She slipped her arms around his waist, tilting her head back to look at him.

"Yes." He answered honestly bringing his forehead down to rest on hers.

"Good answer." She murmured smiling softly before turning her head slightly and pressing her lips against his in a light sweet caress. "Because if you start thinking that I'm a sure thing all bets are off."

"I'll remember that." The humor was evident in his voice, she felt so right in his arms. He brushed a kiss on one cheek and then the other before slowly trailing his way to her mouth, setting off sensations in both of them as he did so.

The teasing banter was gone the instant they kissed. The new, yet somehow familiar, intensity that sparked between them whenever their mouths touched was awakened again. This time it was stronger than it had ever been. The week without each other only added power to the need between the two.

God he had missed her, he had been feeling half-alive for so long now, he had actually gotten used to it. Somehow when he was with her, it was gone, replaced by her. He was finally close to her again, his hands worked their way over her body, and he only wanted to be closer still.

She felt like she could kiss him until the world spun off its axis and never, ever tire of it or him. His hands brushed her shoulders causing her to flinch and jerk away from him.

"Are you okay?" The words were a demand, his hands slipped under the collar of her shirt, pushing it from her shoulder, exposing the teeth marks there.

"Damn'it I told her no biting."

"Carly bit you?" What was going on with all the biting lately?

"I should have known she couldn't stick to the rules. She never has any other time why would she in a fight?" Elizabeth cried looking at her shoulder. "I shouldn't have pulled that last punch."

"Rules?" He shook his head. "What rules?"

"You know leverage rules." She snapped only to stop when she felt the breeze against her bare skin. Curious she looked down and discovered that the buttons of her shirt had been undone to her waist. "Christ Morgan you in a hurry or something?"

Jason watched her flush work it's way down from her face over her pale skin.

Glaring at him she hurriedly buttoned her shirt … the man was good. Unnerved and drawn by that unwavering stare she took a deep breath there were a few things they were going to have to get straight.

"What do you mean leverage rules?" The question caused her to lose her train of thought.

"You know leverage rules?" At his blank look she went on. "In a fight when you get leverage on someone you can name a rule that has to be used during the fight. Like with Carly I told her no biting but apparently she didn't understand what that meant."

Jason was positive that she had lost it. Rules during a fight? That made no sense. "Is that how girls fight?"

"No it's how we fight with guys too. Normally a guy's first rule is no shots to the groin, so you have to get in those jabs quick before you lose your leverage." He was looking at her like she had lost her mind.

He shook his head, catching her hand and pulled her closer, studying her knuckles. "No cuts anywhere that's good."

"Yeah well if you don't close your fist all the way, it minimizes the damage to your knuckles." She told him absently and felt her stomach flip when he brought it up to his lips and placed a kiss on the bruised knuckle. Oh man she was in trouble.

"You shouldn't fight." He murmured bringing up her other hand to his mouth.

"Um…well, you're not in the position to lecture me about getting into fights."

"Guess not." He bent down to kiss her again.

"No." She put a hand on his chest and pushed, propelling him back a step. "Quit trying to distract me."

"Distract you from what?"

"The rules," pausing she let out a breath. "Before we go any further there are a few rules you need to agree to."

Jason caught her arm before she could pull back any further. "What do you mean? What rules?"

"Rules about you and me and this." She gestured and took a step back from him beginning to move. "I want to set some ground rules before I even consider going out with you."

"Wait," he caught her arm stilling her mid-movement. "You already agreed to go out with me."

"I know but I can change my mind and I will if you don't agree." She retorted pulling her arm loose. "Don't," she snapped when he went to touch her again.

Jason backed off a step his eyes asking the questions he refused to speak.

"I can't think when you touch me and I really need to think. Oh man," Elizabeth groaned catching his smile. "Forget you heard that." If he knew exactly how much power he had over her she would be in trouble.

He wiped the smile off his face and studied her while she moved around muttering to herself. He loved to watch the way she thought hell he loved to watch her period. She came to a stop before him her face set in a determined line. This might not be good.

"I want to take things slow."

"Slow?"

"Yes," she gnawed at her lip for a minute then continued. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me, but you did and I'm not real eager to go back there."

He flinched. His eyes darkened and he shoved his hands into his pockets. He knew he had hurt her, but knowing it and hearing her say it were two different things.

"I'm not saying that to make you feel bad, it's just the truth of how I feel. I don't want to feel like that again, and unfortunately you have the power to make me feel like that. I know you won't intentionally but still…"

"Alright."

"So although it doesn't look like it. Especially whenever you kiss me, I really don't want to sleep with you," she flushed. "I mean of course I want to sleep with you," she groaned, "I mean I'm just not ready yet."

"Elizabeth I said okay we'll take it slow."

"You did?" She smiled slightly in relief, now for the embarrassing part. "I need you to promise me that you won't push me on this."

"I wouldn't."

"I know, it's just..." she turned away a little embarrassed to face him. "I don't have a lot of control when it comes to you, so it would be real easy for you to make me forget. I know it's unfair to you, but I just need some time."

"I promise," he turned her to face him, "I also promise I'm not…"

"Stop," stepping up quickly she put her finger over his lips. "That's the other rule. No promises, other than that one. Whatever happens between us happens, no promises or guarantees, whether it's one date or twenty we just play it out."

Jason frowned he didn't like the sound of that.

"That didn't come out right. What I meant was, we need to take this relationship one day at a time. Sort of like the AA of dating."

"What?" Why did she always confuse him?

"You know Alcoholics Anonymous' motto one day at a time. In this case it would be one date at a time," she grinned up at him. "So are you willing to play by my rules?"

His hands slid around her waist. "Yes I can do that." And he could he would prove himself to her if that was what it would take. "You need to agree to one of mine though."

She cocked her head to look at him. "What?"

"I don't share."

Elizabeth blinked up at him in confusion. "What?"

"While we're dating you don't see anyone else." Danny or anyone else was not going to get near her again.

She nodded. "Same goes Jason, although why you felt the need to say anything is beyond me. I'm the one who always found you lip-locked with our resident psycho wanna-be blonde."

"Carly kissed me," Jason argued. "You on the other hand kissed Danny voluntarily." His fists were clenched just thinking about it.

"I what?"

"The other night I saw you kissing Danny in the park. That was right before the bastard left you there alone, drunk, at midnight."

"Jason," she shook her head in exasperation. "You can't hold me responsible for that. You know damn well rum does strange things to me," she paused in consideration. "Wait that was all I did right? I just kissed him."

"I don't know I didn't stay around and watch." Jason moved away from her, if he had he would be behind bars for murder, and wouldn't Taggert love that.

"So if you knew I was with Danny why did you come back?" She asked moving after him.

To kill him and throttle her. "I don't know," he admitted shortly rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. "I guess I wanted to make sure that you were alright. It's a good thing I did, the guy was a total idiot for leaving you like that." And a dead one once he found him.

"Yes he was but I'm okay thanks to you," When she slipped her arms around his waist she was grateful she could finally do so. But she could feel the tension in him, and see the anger in his face. "So we're agreed, no promises, we take it slow and no skanks, right?" Looking up at him she was immediately lost in his eyes.

"That's right," he drew her closer and leaned down to smell her hair.

"Good," her voice sounded husky to her ears. "These rules should help us so we don't get hurt." His scent was enveloping her again, her arms tightened on his waist pressing his hips into her. "So we should get back to work then."

"Probably, Sonny's waiting to talk to me." But he made no move to leave instead he brushed his lips over her forehead and down her cheek.

"Right and I have to finish A.J.'s roadster." To hell with it she turned and caught his mouth with hers.

Jason's arms tightened automatically lifting her slightly taking her weight in his arms deepening the kiss. Her mouth left his to move over his skin, finding his ear, nibbling on it to tease, before kissing the tender skin behind it to torment him.

His hands tightened convulsively at her hips, that was one of his most sensitive spots. He knew he should stop this, but he couldn't quite bring himself to do so, not when she felt so good. He caught her head and brought her mouth to his and the kiss turned desperate when his tongue invaded her mouth for an instant to devastate her senses before he abruptly withdrew it again, and broke the kiss.

"We really should get back to work now." He said roughly letting her go and taking a step back from her.

Leave? She opened her eyes slowly fighting her way out of a desire caused haze, she shook her head in disbelief, he wanted to leave?

Jason knew he wouldn't be able to keep his word if she kept looking at him like that. If she kept looking at him like that he was going to pull her to the ground, tear off her clothes and be inside of her…he turned and headed for the bike. "Lucky has probably destroyed the place by now."

He was just doing what she made him promise to do, so she really couldn't plan his death, as tempting as that thought was. She watched him by the bike, moving closer to him, God he was beautiful, exactly why was she holding him at arms length?

"Yeah you have a lot of work to do." She murmured finally. "Replacing me will be hard if I say so myself."

"You're still planning on leaving?" He knew he didn't like that. "I thought we settled everything."

"We did personally, I just don't know if it's a good thing to date my boss." She shrugged trailing her hand on the bike seat. "Besides there are other things I would like to do."

"Oh." Like what? The question was on the tip of his tongue but he didn't ask it. "I hope you will stay, at least until you figure out what those things are."

Disappointed that he didn't ask her what things, but pleased he wanted her to stay she smiled at him slyly. "Tell me the truth you only asked me out because you didn't want to find a replacement."

He bent down and whispered in her ear. "Yes."

"Morgan." She swatted his arm. "That means you owe me."

"I owe you what?" he asked leaning against the bike.

"I get to drive."

"No."

"Yes."

He shook his head. "No one drives this bike but me. No one ever has and no one ever will."

She moved in front of him and placed her hands on his thighs, bringing her head inches from his. "Wanna bet?"

~Garage~

"Well will you look at that?" Johnny called.

Sonny and Lucky walked out of the office in time to see Jason's bike roar to a stop. Elizabeth and Jason got off of it and started walking to the garage hand in hand.

Without saying a word Johnny held out his hand. Lucky grumbled and slapped a $20 into it before heading back inside.

Johnny kept his hand out and waited. "You saw who was driving didn't you?"

Sonny put a $50 in his hand. "Damn man you just cost me," he groused to Jason.

Jason stopped. "What?"

"Never mind I see you two have kissed and made up and no hose was necessary," Sonny teased.

"Drop it Sonny."

Elizabeth turned away from the amusement when she heard a car turn on the gravel road behind her. "That's A.J. I need to get the roadster," she said heading inside.

"Hey Elizabeth I'm still waiting." Sonny called after her.

Elizabeth turned to look at him. "You were serious about that?"

"Yes I told you it was good and I wanted it."

Jason watched in amazement when her face went red and she began to shuffle her feet. If he didn't know her better he'd think she was nervous.

"I'll get it to you Mr. C. I can definitely use the money now." A smile bloomed across her face and she practically flew to the roadster.

Jason looked at Sonny the questions evident from his expression.

Sonny shrugged. "I went to see her while you were gone. I'm buying something of hers."

"Hey Jason," the boisterous call came from behind him.

Jason closed his eyes briefly before turning. "A.J."

"Hey how are you man? It's good to see you." A.J. grinned and slapped Jason on the shoulder, completely ignoring Sonny.

"Fine."

"So does Elizabeth have my car ready? Man is she talented with her hands." And they were such nice hands too. "Keshia wants to take it to the Nurses Ball."

There was no reaction from Jason other than a sigh.

"Are you going? Oh, probably not, Robin won't be there this year will she? I know you don't want to see the family but it would be nice if you stopped by."

"A.J," Elizabeth called from inside the garage.

"Just a second honey. Look Jason just think about it. Mom would love to see you." A.J. slapped his shoulder again before trotting over to Elizabeth.

Jason shook his head. A.J. would never change.

"Well one thing about A.J. he is easy to talk to. He does all the work." Sonny observed quietly moving into the office. "Come on let's finish."

~Roadster~

"So I fixed the timing and the suspension. A.J. you have got a beauty here you ought to take care of her."

"I hope he goes."

"What?" Elizabeth paused in her explanation to look up at the taller than Jason, broader than Jason, and definitely not as handsome, version of Jason.

"Jason," he turned to look at her again. "I hope he goes to the ball. I know it would be hard without Robin, but it would be good for him don't you think?"

"Yes, in fact…"

"I know he's still in love with Robin, heck everyone knows that. But I think it's time he goes out again." As long as it's not with Keshia he thought to himself. "Maybe…" he stopped himself with a laugh. "I was going to suggest fixing him up with you. Now that would be funny."

She slammed the car hood down nearly catching his fingers in the process. "Why?"

"Well for one thing he's so quiet which you definitely aren't," shaking his head he went on, oblivious to the glare in her eyes. "Nope you just wouldn't match. Besides I know my brother and his types, that hasn't changed even with the accident. Karen, Keshia, Robin, they were all delicate," he pointed to her grease stained jeans and shirt. "You're not delicate, you just wouldn't fit in."

"A.J. you know rather than explaining what I did to your car," she took his arm. "I think I ought to take you on a test drive and show you."

"Okay honey," he agreed opening the driver's door.

"I think it would be better if I drive that way I can show you what to expect from this little honey," she gave him a smile that could only be considered evil.

~Office~

Jason glanced out the office door when he heard a car peal out of the garage. "Johnny."

"Yes?"

"What was that?"

"I think Elizabeth is showing A.J. the finer points of owning a classic." Johnny said fighting a grin, she looked rather pissed when she roared out of here, and A.J. was already scrambling for his seatbelt.

Jason nodded in dismissal. "So did anything happen while I was gone?"

"Nothing unusual." Sonny knew Jason was fishing for answers and swallowed a grin.

"Good." Why didn't Sonny tell him what he was buying from Elizabeth that made her so damn happy?

"If I were you I would dodge Carly for a while. She wasn't too happy when she left here." Sonny headed out of the office with Jason and Johnny trailing him.

"I can imagine. Elizabeth wasn't exactly thrilled either." Jason broke off. "But I think she was more mad that Carly broke the rules than because of the fight."

"She broke the rules? I should have known." Johnny spoke up with a grimace.

"You know about the rules?"

"Sure Jason leverage rules."

Jason looked from Sonny to Johnny who were both nodding. Why did everyone know about this but him? "Really?"

"Sure my sister Jenna always called no biting first thing, and she was quick let me tell you. But my sister Lily, she had this really long hair, so she always went with no hair pulling. That was hard because sometimes you could only catch her by her hair, she was fast."

Sonny laughed. "And the others?"

"Well Deanna was the strange one. I swear she was adopted. Anyway you never knew what she was going to call," Johnny shook his head in fond remembrance. "Sometimes she would change it around and call things like you can only use your right hand. Of course she did that one when my arm was in a sling because Amy broke my arm."

Now Jason was laughing. "Which one knocked out your tooth?"

"Amy again, she was the youngest and the sneakiest, she liked to lay traps for you."

"And your rule was?"

"No groin shots of course. You know I almost miss them. But it is easier now I only have one sister and I like her so much more than the four terrors."

Jason snorted. "You're not still mad at them are you?"

"Jason as far as I am concerned Elizabeth is my only sister from here on out."

Jason just laughed harder. Seeing Sonny's blank look he explained. "A few months ago for Johnny's birthday Francis and I took him to that little restaurant by Queen of Angels. While we were there this nun shows up and starts talking to us."

"You know I don't think Sonny wants to hear this," Johnny tried to intercede.

"Yes I do. Go on Jason."

"She looked perfectly normal, a habit, a wimple, and she's just talking to us about the church. Of course Johnny and Francis were very polite because they went to catholic schools. I guess they were in fear of her. Then this music starts and out of nowhere she starts to strip. I thought Johnny was going to pass out on the spot. The restaurant is going crazy and cheering her on…"

"You know I think I should bring the car around."

"Stay Johnny." Sonny didn't know what was funnier, the fact Jason was telling a story or the look on Johnny's face.

"She gets on his lap, really working it, her habit on the floor at his feet, Johnny here is just taking off the wimple when Father Joseph walks in."

Sonny laughed. "How many Hail Mary's did you have to say for that one?"

"I'm still saying them." Johnny answered. "See that is why I have no more sisters. Sending a stripper in a nun's habit to me."

"What was her name again?"

"Deb," Johnny answered automatically.

Sonny roared. "She must have made an impression."

The sound of squealing tires caught their attention and the three men looked up in time to see A.J.'s roadster come flying into the lot, do a 180 and come to a jerking stop in front of the drive.

Elizabeth opened the door and got out. "See how much better it handles when you don't ignore the red warning light on your dashboard?" She leaned in the window to take the credit card from a decidedly green A.J. "I'll be right back."

She was whistling when she walked by the men, shooting Jason a wink.

"You know you are a brave man." Sonny commented to Jason when A.J. fell out of the car and hurried to the trash bin to puke.

~Office~

"So what I'm trying to say is that…I mean I would like to ask…That is…"

"Spit it out Lucky." Damn machine always knew when to act up.

"Would you go to the Nurses Ball with me? I know you couldn't afford a ticket so I got one for you."

"I'd rather suck wax fruit," Elizabeth muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"I said I am already going with Jason." She breezed outside and headed for A.J.

"You're going to the ball with Jason?" Lucky called after her positive he must have misheard her.

"Yes."

Lucky looked at Jason, what could she possibly see in him?

When Elizabeth walked back to the garage. She saw Sonny hold out his hand palm up to her and grinning. "Jeez," she muttered putting a $20 in his hand. "That was one bet I didn't mind losing."

Sonny laughed heading for his car. "Bye Jason, I'll be expecting that delivery Elizabeth."

"You'll get it Mr. C." She felt Jason's eyes on her. "What?"

"What bet and what package?"

"Why are you asking me personal questions? Are you feeling okay Jason?" she moved inside to put the receipt in the office.

"Goodnight Lucky." Jason said to the boy before closing the garage door in his face and going after her.

Lucky wasn't sure, but he thought he hated Jason Morgan. He heard Elizabeth's laughter coming from inside the garage and he knew for sure that he did.

~Apartment~

Elizabeth was in her studio when someone knocked at her door. She glanced at the clock 11:30. If it was Lurky she was really going to hurt him. "Who is it?"

"Jason."

"Just a minute." She looked down in a panic at her paint-splattered shirt and shorts. Heading for her dresser she tripped over her forgotten work boots and went crashing to the floor.

"Are you okay?" Jason called through the door.

"Yes." What was she trying to do? He had seen her covered in oil she sure wasn't going to impress him now. Grumbling, she got off the floor and opened the door. "What brings you by?"

"I was at the warehouse and I saw your light," he waited a beat. "Can I come in?"

"What? Oh sure." She backed up and let him in. "It's kind of a mess, but that's me."

She was wrong it wasn't messy but it was definitely her. Pieces of her were scattered everywhere, the shirt on the table along with some tools, bowls of potpurri, her collection of dragons on the windowsill. He moved further into the room his eye drawn to the painting over her bed. While he was gone the colors in that painting haunted him. He couldn't make out the details but he was still drawn to it. "What is this of?"

"It's a dragon charging his way home."

"Oh." He still couldn't see it.

She stepped in front of him and took his hand in hers, she pulled it up and gestured toward the painting. "You see that ribbon of tannish gold, with the scattered white spots in it?"

"Yes."

"Well that's the beach after a storm, when everything is turned up. The white specks are shells and clams."

Jason nodded and put his other hand on her waist. "What else?"

"See this mess of blues here?" she pointed again guiding his hand with hers. "It's the ocean as it's beginning to crash. Up here is the dragon, he's looking for his way home. He is fully extended you can see his muscles are ripped and taut as he dives down. His expression is fierce he is ready to crash through the water and into his cave under the sea." She lowered his hand. "You have to time the wave just right or it will take you to the wrong cave and he will be lost forever. That is why he views the water as an enemy and not a friend. To him the water means a prison."

"It's good. How did you know all that?" Jason asked putting his hand on her waist. Now that she explained the picture it was clear to him. It really was a powerful image.

"I just do." She shrugged stepping out of his grasp.

"You know for this to work you're going to have to talk to me."

"I talk. Half the time you can't shut me up."

"You accused me of not knowing you earlier today," he moved closer to her. "I want to know you."

Hoisted by her own petard she thought glumly. "Okay ask me a question then."

"Tell me what happened when Sonny came by."

She looked at him in surprise she had been expecting a question about her painting not that.

If she was surprised Jason was stunned. Where exactly had that question come from?

"It was no big deal."

"Goddamn'it. How many times do I have to tell you I don't want to go out with you?" Elizabeth yelled opening the door. "Lu…Mr. C."

"You would only have to tell me and mean it once. That is if I ever asked you out." Sonny answered with a smile.

Her face flushed. "I thought you were Lu…someone else."

"I get that a lot," he waited. "Can I come in?"

"Yes, I guess," stepping aside she held out her arm. "It's not the Harborview but it's home."

"You know you shouldn't just open your door without knowing who is there Elizabeth, that's a bad idea anytime but especially in this neighborhood." Sonny's voice was ripe with censure.

"Yes Daddy. So what brings you by?" The color washed from her face and she practically leapt to his side taking his arm and turning him to face her. "He's not hurt is he?"

"No Jason's fine. He just went out of town."

Elizabeth sagged against him for a second in relief. "Thank god," she abruptly jerked away when she realized what she was doing. "Sorry Mr. C."

"It's okay, I'm sorry I scared you."

Embarrassed she moved further away, keeping her back to him. "So what brings you by?"

"Jason was worried about you."

She snorted, "Tell him I'm fine."

Sonny studied her then moved into her studio. "You don't look fine."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She automatically smoothed her shirt and followed him inside the other room.

"You look like you haven't slept in days." Sonny bent down and began to examine the paintings she had propped against the wall.

"I've had a lot on my mind. Look as you can see I am perfectly fine so why don't you leave." Why was he looking at her stuff? No one looked at her stuff except friends.

"Did you do these?" He asked picking one up to move closer to the light to study it better.

"Yes, it's just a hobby, I'm not very good." She moved to fiddle with the paintbrushes on the table to see which one he was looking at. It was one of her favorite landscapes. She tried to read his expression but he had a great poker face.

"This is really good. Why are you wasting your time and talent as a mechanic?" Sonny asked angrily.

Startled by his tone, for a minute all she could do was gape at him. "I don't have any training this is just something I do as a release. Why are you getting mad?"

"Because these are too good to be leaning against a studio wall in the warehouse district."

"Chill Sonny."

"You just shouldn't waste your talent," he stopped and grinned. "What did you call me?"

She turned away. "Mr. C."

"No you didn't you said Sonny."

"I don't know what you are talking about Mr. C. We really need to leave the paint fumes in here are obviously getting to you." She tried to pull the painting from his hands.

"I want this painting. How much?"

"You want to buy it?" She looked at him in amazement. No one had ever wanted to buy one of her pieces before.

"Yes." He studied the landscape again. It was a picture of chaos. The sky was dark and wild looking, a tornado graced the canvas, the trees were stretching at their roots drawn to the swirling winds. She had managed to capture the wildness of the storm. It was dark, it was powerful, and it suited him.

"You can have it."

"No I want to buy it. I want to say I was the first person to buy a Webber original." Sonny grinned and named a price that had her eyes widening in shock.

"I'll make a frame for you then." She had sold her first painting she couldn't believe it.

"Good I'll expect it." He paused at the open door. "He'll be back you know."

She was too dazed to even pretend, "Of course he will he lives here."

"No I mean he'll be back here with you."

"I won't hold my breath." Elizabeth shifted, "I mean why should that matter to me?"

Sonny stepped closer and cupped her chin raising her head so he could see her eyes. "Because you love him, and he is in love with you to. He just needs a little more time to see that."

She pulled her head away. "You're wrong on that one Sonny, he loves Robin."

"I bet you he will be back before the Nurses Ball and I bet he asks you to go with him."

"You know what they say Mr. C, a sucker and their money are soon parted." She held out her hand to agree to the bet, this was one bet she really wanted to lose.

"So that's it no big deal. He bought a painting and made a bet with me."

Jason moved into the studio, he could smell the turpentine then. "Painting is what you meant earlier when you asked me if I knew what you loved to do more than anything else."

"Yes. That wasn't fair of me, you couldn't know I never told you."

"And I never asked." He looked around the room, wishing for the first time in a very long time that he wasn't brain damaged so he could see what she saw.

"Jason it's okay. I know it is difficult to see things like this, its one of the reasons I didn't tell you." She wanted to ease the frustration on his face, crossing to him she hugged him.

"You'll have to explain them to me. I'll see them then, just like I saw your dragon. It was your painting wasn't it?"

"Yes it was one of mine. I'll explain the others if you want." She started to step away only to stop when his shirt started to come with her. She giggled. "I guess I got some glue on me. Sorry," she pulled her shirt free from his.

"What were you gluing?" He couldn't help but laugh as well.

"Nothing," she gestured behind her. "It wasn't going to work anyway."

Jason looked at the table and spotted the broken dragon. Sobering he went over to it and ran a finger over it. "This is the one I bought for you in Mexico."

"Yeah, I broke it." She immediately regretted the words. The last thing she wanted was to remind him of the last time he was here. "In case you haven't noticed I have the tendency to throw things when I'm mad."

"I hadn't noticed." Jason said quietly knowing exactly what she was doing.

She pulled on his arm and led him out of the studio. "It's time for you to go. I need sleep I have a mean boss."

"Mean?"

"Yes he's a real tyrant, but I have my ways around him." She told him backing him to the door.

"What might that be?"

She beckoned him closer. "I'm a better mechanic than him."

Jason laughed. "Only with cars," he bent down and kissed her lips in a feathery caress and traced a finger down her cheek before opening the door. SLOW he ordered himself, he had to remember to move slow. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah." She watched him move down the hall. "Wait."

He turned in time to catch her as she jumped into his arms, her legs locked around his waist and her mouth fused on his. She bit at his bottom lip to make him open for her. He groaned into her mouth and staggered back into the wall. His hands went to cup her bottom holding her close, then moved up to lose themselves in her hair. Images of her and what he wanted to do with her filled his brain, causing him to moan again. Then as quickly as her attack had begun she jumped down and backed away from him. "I said slow, but not that slow."

Jason stayed there leaning against the wall long after she had disappeared in her apartment. She was going to kill him.

~Penthouse 3~

"Wake up Jax, the movie is over." Alexis swatted him with a pillow.

He jerked up and blinked rapidly. "I'm awake, it was a good movie."

Alexis shook her head glaring at him. "How you can sleep through Bringing Up Baby is beyond me," standing she tugged on his hand. "Come on time for you to go, I have Court in the morning."

"Okay what time should I pick you up?"

"For what?"

"Friday for the Nurse's Ball what time?" he asked stretching the kinks out of his neck.

"Jax you never asked me to the ball."

"I didn't?" Jax swore under his breath, V was supposed to remind him.

"No," Alexis shook her head.

"So I'm asking now." He said with a cocky smile.

"Sorry." She shook her head and opened the door. "I'm already going with someone."

Jax looked through the door and glared in the direction of Sonny's penthouse. "Let me guess Corinthos?"

"Yes he asked me a month ago instead of," she looked at her watch, "3 days before."

"So you won't break it? Not even for me?" He asked with a smile leaning closer to her.

"No." She patted his chest pushing him away slightly. "You'll have to find someone else."

"Where am I supposed to find someone at this late date?"

"That's your problem not mine."

"I suppose I'll get V to go with me." He mumbled.

"Do yourself a favor and don't ask her like that. She's still armed half the time."

He bent down to kiss her goodbye, and Alexis turned her face so he caught her cheek and not her lips.

Sonny stepped off the elevator in time to see the kiss.

Jax turned to look at him when he felt her tense. "Corinthos."

"Jax." The name was a sneer.

"Well you boys have fun. Goodnight." Alexis quickly closed the door to get away from all the testosterone.

Jax ignored Sonny moving by him and getting on the elevator. Sonny waited until the doors were almost closed. "We'll see you at the ball Jasper." His grin was taunting as Jax glared at him.

~Wyndhams~

"Emily why are you bringing me strapless gowns? I have nothing to hold up a strapless gown. That last black one with the points made me look like a flat chested stick figure." Elizabeth wailed.

"Trust me."

"Trust you. For three days you have dragged me shopping, every lunch hour, after work with no end in sight and tomorrow is the Ball," she groaned, "Just shoot me now and get it over with."

"Here put this on," Emily shoved something through the curtain.

Elizabeth looked at the garment, it wasn't a dress and it didn't look like any bra she had seen either. "What is it?"

"Trust me and put it on." Emily called. "It'll work wonders."

"How the hell do you know? You have cleavage. God what is this is a torture device?" Elizabeth's voice carried out into the hall.

"I was a model you learn things," Emily murmured absently picking at her bangs.

"You were a model for all of 15 minutes how much could you have learned?"

"Trust me 15 minutes of modeling is about 12 minutes to long." She broke off to smile at the new arrivals. "Hi V, Alexis, are you shopping too?"

"V is I am just supervising."

"Yeah Mr. Jacks asked me to go to the ball with him." V explained with a small smile.

"V if your going to the ball I think you can call him Jax," Alexis reminded her friend.

"JESUS CHRIST." Elizabeth burst out of the dressing room wearing a bustier and her jeans. "I got breasts."

Emily laughed. "It's amazing what the right accessories can do."

Elizabeth turned around in the three-way mirror, yes she had cleavage for the first time since she was 12. "Look Emily gave me tits."

Alexis laughed while V stared at her in shock. "That was generous of her."

"Emily you are so my very best friend." Elizabeth yelled hugging her. "Now what other colors do these come in?"

~Apartment~

Elizabeth nervously smoothed down her dress, it was finally Friday and she was scared to death. Tonight was going to be her first date with Jason she hoped it wouldn't be her last This whole week had been an amazement for her, Jason had come by every night and they had talked and gotten closer. He was opening up to her and it was getting harder and harder to resist him, she was beginning to wonder why she was even trying to.

She moved into the other room and opened the closet door to study her reflection in the full-length mirror that was hanging there. She couldn't believe that it was her staring back at her. She had went full out today, hadn't gone to work, snuck into a beauty spa like a thief, and spent the day being pampered. Between that insanity and the cost of the dress, most of the money she got from Sonny for the painting was long gone. She sighed and closed the door, everyone deserved to be a Cinderella at least once in their life.

That made Jason Morgan her prince, she giggled at the thought. Jason was a lot of things but a prince was not one of them thank god. He was a flesh and blood man who, at least for now, wanted her. Why? She shook her head that was not a question she felt like dealing with tonight.

Moving into the studio searching for the sense of comfort to calm her nerves, she had gotten ready far to early and now she had time to think. The dragon she was still trying to glue back together caught her eye, she crossed to it, and traced it lightly. Dragons mated for life, once that love was lost, even if it was only a day they were celibate. God what an amazing thought, only one love for them in their whole life. She wondered what if that would be…Whoa brain, apply those brakes. She hadn't even had one date, in public with Jason yet and she was weaving fantasies about forever with the man. "Get a grip Webber."

Tonight was going to be a test, she knew it and so did he, but it was also going to be good. If things went well, tonight she wouldn't say goodnight to him at the door either. Nope tonight he would be with her all night. Thank god very many more cold showers and she would be able to pass for a prune.

The knock on the door interrupted her thoughts of how best to spend the late night hours with Jason. It was time, taking a deep breath she crossed the room and opened the door.