Plot and Week # 18: Wretched Excess crazy, style, devoid
Couple: Nikolas and Gia

Rated R
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them

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All I Want

"Nikolas, I'm so glad you could take the time out of your busy day to come over and sign those insurance papers."

Nikolas Cassadine acknowledged the incomparable Kate Howard, publisher of the popular Crimson magazine and queen of style with a nod. She rose gracefully from her leather chair and crossed the wide desk to greet him with a smile and a handshake. It was nothing to take the few hours from a relatively unoccupied day to venture to the Metro Court offices, better than sitting back at Wyndemere climbing the walls with boredom while he waited for his son to wake from his afternoon nap.

Since Emily's death, most of his days were spent either with Spencer or working so this change of pace was welcome. In the beginning, he had Nadine for company but after she had quite shyly explained that her feelings for him were moving beyond the friendship he offered, he thought perhaps it might be wise to place a bit of distance between them. He would regret the loss, yet he wasn't able to offer her anything in return and to continue to occupy her time simply because he hated being alone wasn't fair to her.

Then there was the brief liaison with Claudia Zacchara that ended abruptly and rather badly. Instinctual needs had sparked the ill fated attraction, which the femme fatale had happily reciprocated. Their little tango while sexually satisfying was never meant to extend beyond a few hours here and there in the bedroom. What he hadn't anticipated was her sudden declaration of affection, so when he'd told her that he would never love any woman the way he had loved Emily he wasn't quite surprised when she stormed out of the mansion slinging threats of reprisal in her wake.

It was days like this when he missed Emily most. Just the simplicity of her company, where he could be with her and have not only his heart content but his body and spirit as well.

"It was no problem Kate," though he had been hesitant at first when she approached him with the business proposition. His first query had been why she hadn't turned to her business partner Jax, for certainly the man had access to various properties at his disposal.

If not Jax, then certainly her on again off again relationship with Sonny would have proven fruitful. Kate was insistant upon something in Greece for her Spring layout and when Lulu mentioned he owned an island just off the coast, that made the final decision for the demanding fashionista.

"I just wanted to thank you again for allowing Crimson to use the island for the photoshoot. And perhaps to change your mind about coming to see the results of your generousity."

"No but thank you. Under your supervision I'm sure everything will go well. I have instructed the guards and household staff to prepare for your arrival. If there are any problems, anyone there will be capable of seeing to your needs."

"Are you certain, Nikolas?" She paused with a concerned smile. Over the past days of conversation and negotiation, he was able to say that he and Kate were friendly if not well on their way toward the ease of that relationship.

In that time, neither had spoken much of their personal lives but as highly publicized individuals, neither were ignorant of the various trials and tribulations each had faced. Kate might not come right out and say he needed the time away from Port Charles, but that simple turn of lip held a wealth of unspoken.

"The legal precautions you've drawn up are fine. I don't need to play guard dog with the island. I trust your people will be absolutely professional."

"Of course," her confident smirk wasn't ill placed. If anyone else had approached him about such a partnership, he would have immediately refused. Kate Howard's reputation in business was impeccable. So he felt comfortable in the knowledge that his property was in safe hands.

Not that he held many precious memories of the island of his birth. Cassadine heritage made such sentiment virtually impossible. Certainly no memories of a cherished mother and father remained in Greece. No doting grandparents. His Uncle Stefan had been the closest thing to a parent he'd ever had on the island and he had loved him but within the duplicity and psychopathic tendencies of his family even those emotions were tarnished. Now he was torn between nostalgia and mild distaste for the place.

"Your home will be in good hands, Nikolas, you can depend upon that."

It took mere moments to glance through the final documents both his Aunt Alexis and Kate's lawyer Diane had drawn up, an instant longer for both he and Kate to apply their signatures. In the space of that time, Nikolas' gaze flickered across the photos spread from a manilla folder on Kate's desk and he felt something faded and mildly intrigued shimmer to life in his chest.

Known for her perceptiveness, Kate noticed where his attention had been drawn and leaned over to lift the glossy and offer it to him. "Isn't she beautiful? Of course I was surprised to know she was originally from Port Charles, but it was quite the coup to get her to agree to do the layout."

Nikolas took the photograph with a tentative hand, "Yes she's quite beautiful."

"What most people don't know is she was her refusal to rejoin the modeling world. She was working as a barrister in London at the time when Mario Testino met her at one of Klein's shows. The modeling world credits him for bringing her back into the fold."

He wasn't familiar with the fashion industry. A long time ago, that world had been a very large part of his life but he had shoved any connection to it into his past and never dared look at it again. It was part of the reason he had initally been hesitant about working with Kate but Lulu had practically begged, using the little sister card with Spencer ease and he had caved thinking his previous connection would never be brought to light.

How wrong he had been.

"Since her return, she refused to return to the States to work and with her face and popularity, she's been quite fortunate to pick and choose her assignments. Crimson is lucky to work with her."

Her.

The woman in the photograph hadn't changed over the years. Her face having matured perhaps, refined like a perfect glass of the champagne she had once been so fond of. Instead of the braids he remembered, her dark hair swung freely about her proud shoulders. A once seductive young body became, warm and fiery, nubile curves. From the mischieveous gleam in her eyes, she was still perfectly aware of the appreciative glances she drew and confident in her ability to hold that attention for as long as she deemed worthy.

It was one of the things many people didn't like about her. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her.

For despite that layer of arrogance, he could see the soft vulnerablity she tried to hide. He could remember it in those wide expressive eyes when she awakened in bed next to him, where it was so exquistely inviting to burn in the fire she kindled. There were flickers of it when people were cruel and she resorted to harsh words to defend herself. When the family she cared for hurt her.

When their relationship eventually fell apart.

Her.

Gia.

"Were you living in Port Charles during the time she resided here as well, Nikolas?" From Kate's curious expression, it was obvious she had noted his intense perusal of the photograph.

"Yes, I knew Gia," he murmured, not quite sure what he felt seeing her face again. He had loved Emily, and had she not been murdered, they would probably be married again. Emily was the love of his life, this he firmly believed, and he would never love another woman like he had loved her.

Yet Gia...

A slow knowing smile spread across Kate's face, "Are you sure you won't be joining us in Greece then?"

XXooXX

"Well, if it isn't the Cassadine Prince himself. I thought this ostentatious interior looked familiar," a slender hand waved broadly to indicate the excess in the drawing room he had never been comfortable with. "I've never experiencd a place more devoid of warmth than one the Cassadine's touched, no matter how beautiful it is."

Nikolas was still questioning his sanity after twenty-four hours alone on the island. There was no way to justify his presence here. His inital confidence in Kate's authority was spot on, so there was no reason why he needed to fly over to the island a day ahead of time and certainly none for him to stay.

Using a vacation for Spencer as an excuse wouldn't hold either. If anything, the people and cameras would be a hinderance to any private time he would have with his son. Currently ensconced in the west wing, his son was happily enjoying indoor playtime after his morning ride was cut short by mild rainshowers, oblivious to his father's inner turmoil.

The sun must have returned, for Gia stood before him now in pristine white, her honey skin glowing in contrast. The traveling suit, with it's high waisted wide leg pants and cropped single breasted jacket, fit her perfectly, and he could well imagine the confidence and authority she exued in a courtroom.

"It's good to see you again, Gia," he nodded and his words were absolute truth. For the first time in months there was this simmering anticpation twisting in his gut. It was familiar and quite welcome, he had been startled to realize. Finally it had flared brightly when she walked through the door and he had been stricken silent with the sheer power her presence still had on him after all of these years.

"I wish I could say the same." The brow she lifted, taunted him, made him want to lick his lips. She always managed to bring out this side of him. A part of him was wary of. A side he worked very hard to repress in fear he could turn into something dark and twisted like the other men in his family. "I must have been crazy to go near anything related to Port Charles."

Gia pushed.

Gia teased.

Gia dared.

And every masculine instinct in him wanted to respond.

To grasp.

To ravish.

To plunder.

They stared across the room at each other, tension swelling and waiting to crash with all the intensity of massive tidal wave. The others who had been close behind her had drifted away during their silent match of wills, uncomfortable with the near suffocating intent in both their eyes. Bright eyes raked boldly over the perfectly tailored black shirt and trousers he had donned for the day missing nothing while his slowly returned the favor.

Full sensual lips parted to draw in a breath, while his nostrils flared in answer and the light twist at the corner of her mouth spoke more loudly than any words ever could. Despite everything, the attraction, the wanting, was still there. And it probably always would be.

"I heard about Emily," she snapped the invisible thread winding around them with a vicious twist of a verbal blade. "I'm sorry for your loss."

What could he say to that reminder? And how did he deal with the guilt creeping up his spine as all he and Emily had shared was suddenly being challenged by Gia's mere presence. Neither Nadine nor Claudia had this effect on him. Not even his brief affair with Courtney had the power to question his feelings for Emily and that had resulted in the birth of his son.

So what was it about Gia that vexed him so?

And did he have the courage to find out?

Fin