Counting to Ten
Chapter 10
Jason, Michael and Morgan were standing, freshly scrubbed, in front of Elizabeth's door. Jason raised his hand to knock but before his knuckles could hit the door, it flew open and a very excited four year old was jumping for joy.
"Yea! You're here. Are we going to ride in a limo again? Can I open the top and look out the window? Did you have to take a bath? My mommy made me take a bath. Did you? Huh?"
"Woah, hang on Buddy. Yes, we all had to take a bath and yes we are going in a limo and I don't know if your mother will let you look out the sunroof. Did I answer all of your questions?" Jason said as he tugged the legs of his jeans to squat before the little boy.
"What's a sunroof?" Cameron asked. "And you didn't say if I could look out the roof window."
Michael and Jason laughed. Jason looked around the room and didn't see Elizabeth. He called her name and she yelled from the bathroom that she would be just one more minute. Concern crossed over Jason's face knowing Cameron was the one that opened the door but soon it faded as he saw the chair and then noticed the peep hole. The little boy must have been watching for when they stepped off the elevator. That was the only explanation for how he knew to open the door without their knocking.
Suddenly, the door to the bathroom opened and Jason let out a low whistle as Elizabeth stepped out in a hip hugging blue jean mini skirt, a bright red blouse that hugged her figure, dropped sleeves off the side of her shoulders, exposed just enough of her breasts and didn't completely cover her stomach so that he could see the sparkling belly button jewelry. Then he traveled down her legs to the four inch heels with peek-a-boo toes. Her hair was tightly coifed up with wisps of curls cascading down the side of her face. Her eyes were smokey with dark eyeshadow and mascara and her lashes were so long, he thought he could touch them from the door. Her lips were as red as her blouse and shoes and shimmered. She had what he could only describe to himself as glitter across her legs, stomach, chest and bared shoulders. She was a vixen. And he liked it. A LOT!
"Mommy, you look pretty." Cameron said as he ran up and hugged her legs.
"Thank you baby." She said as she looked up at Jason who stood with his eyes flashing fire.
"Um yeah…you look incredible." Jason sputtered trying to catch his breath.
Michael just stared and smiled. She looked like his mom always did when she was in trouble or wanted something from his dad or from Jax. Then again, Jason looked like his dad and Jax always did when his mom dressed like Elizabeth. Whatever Elizabeth wanted or did, Jason was going to give it or forgive it. Michael was sure of it.
When they reached the lobby, they ran into Letecia and Reginald. After introductions, Jason asked. "Has she called you yet?"
"Yes, twice. I haven't answered yet but her voicemails have not been so nice." Letecia informed him in a hushed tone.
Jason again saw the troubled look on Elizabeth's face. "Sonny will take care of it. You are doing perfect. Once I know she's back in Port Charles, I'll call her and take the heat. When I talked to Sonny he said he would call me when her plane touched down. Hey, have you guys eaten dinner?"
"No, we were just talking about that." Reginald chimed in.
"Well, why don't you join us? We are going to a place kind of like a car museum with pool tables and regular food. It's my treat as a celebration of your engagement." Jason asked as he slid up next to Elizabeth and put his arm around her waist. He frowned as she twisted so that his arm would drop.
Realizing there was something wrong he nodded when Reginald and Letecia accepted his invitation and quickly jumped in to action. "Why don't you all get in the limo out front? Elizabeth and I will be there in a minute. I need to get some more cash."
Once the crowd started toward the entrance to The Floridian, Jason turned Elizabeth with a gentle tug on her arm and tried to look her in the eye. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"
"I just think you are taking this joke or punishment or whatever you want to call it too far. I am a mother and I would be terribly upset if my son was not where I thought he was much less find out that my friends made it so that I would not be able to enjoy his vacation with him." She explained never quite looking him in the eye.
"No, I am sure YOU would be upset but trust me when I say this is something straight out of her own book of tricks. She never called to check on her boys. She went to breakfast and then for a massage. Besides, you would not have gone out all night and left your two sons then not bothered to consider them and come home the next morning first thing. I don't mean to be rude but you really don't know Carly so you can't really make an informed opinion about this situation."
"I don't know you either but I am not sure I like this side to you."
Stepping back to regroup, Jason ran his hand through his hair placing his other hand on his hip as he looked at her toes peeking out of her shoes. She was upset and he needed to figure out a way to change her mood. He was afraid she would call off their evening.
She stood still, facing him awaiting his response.
"This is not going how I imagined. Look, if I promise to call Carly and tell her what I have done right now will you change your opinion of me and still let me spend the evening with you?"
"No, I still plan to spend the evening with you. I didn't get dressed like this to sit in my hotel room eating Ramen noodles for dinner. Besides, like you said, I don't know Carly and she did leave her children to run off with some man and then made you worry about her. I may not like what you are doing but it's certainly not my place to tell you what you can and cannot do with your own friend. But don't expect me to like it and don't expect me to play along." She said matter of fact.
He smiled at her frankness. It was refreshing to find someone that didn't play games, said what she thought but didn't try to change him. She was the complete opposite of every woman he'd ever met. It made him realize he could easily fall in love with her.
"Does that mean you're not mad at me?" he asked hoping she would say yes.
"No, I never was mad at you. I just said I didn't like what you are doing. It's just…."
"It's just what?" he slid up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She slid her hand up onto his chest and slowly lifted her sapphire blue eyes to meet his artic blue ones. Softly she spoke, "I don't like games. This is a game you are playing and if you'll do it to someone you call your best friend, what's to say you aren't playing games with me?"
"I'm not" he whispered, pulling her flush against his body.
"How would I know that? You are flashing money around left and right. You say and do all the right things. You obviously want something from me. What is it Jason? What do you want from me?"
"I want you." He said and lowered his head for a mind blowing kiss. He plundered her mouth, running his tongue across her lips, her teeth, her tongue. He moved his hand to her neck turning his head slightly to deepen the kiss. Her knees went weak from his drugging kiss and he caught her, lifting her off her feet while backing her up against a column in the hotel lobby. Pulling away because they both needed air he whispered again into her ear. "I want you."
She hung in the air, the cool column pressed against her shoulders while Jason's arms held her up and his hands and fingers squeezed into her back. He nipped at her ear, then her neck then her bare shoulder leaving a trail of tingles everywhere his lips touched. She wrapped her arms around his neck and could feel a trembling passion rising up in her and settling low in her belly. He shifted slightly and she could feel his hardened manhood against her thigh. She tensed and he released her. He lowered her to the floor, holding on until he was sure she was standing. He moved his mouth back to hers and lightly brushed her lips with his.
He backed up and looked at her, never letting his hands leave her waist. "Let's get some money and get the hell out of here before I ravage you in the middle of this lobby."
She just stared without a word passing through her swollen lips and then allowed him to clasp her hand and lead her over to the ATM machine. With his free hand, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He used one hand to open then sift through it to pull out a credit card then held the credit card in his teeth and tucked his wallet back into his jeans.
She tried to pull her hand from his recognizing that he was having a difficult time maneuvering with only one appendage but he tightened his grip and quickly turned to look at her. In his eyes, she could see he wanted, no he needed that connection so she ran her free hand up his arm and under his sleeve of his black t-shirt then leaned her head against his shoulder, never trying to let go of his hand again.
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They were having a wonderful time at Kool Katz and the kids were having a blast. To entertain the children while adults watched the parade of cars, they had clowns that made balloon animals and children's toys and games and videos set up in a side section of the restaurant. It was nice because the parents could easily see their children and still enjoy themselves. Each parent had an armband that matched their child so that the child was unable to leave the play group without the parent retrieving them.
While the parade of cars and motorcycles drove by, Jason pointed out a bike that was just like the one he owned. He told her how much he loved riding and that his bike was his salvation when the world became too much. She listened with fascination as he told her about the rides he would take and the places around New York and Canada he would go. He mentioned the feeling of freedom and oneness with the open roads and she said it sounded like the same feeling she would get when she painted.
He held her in his arms and rocked her while they watched the cars go by. Finally the parade ended and the four adults and Michael moved toward the bar area. Michael went over to a video game and Jason fed him quarter after quarter. Letecia and Elizabeth went to check on the kids and Reginald and Jason started a game of pool.
"She's beautiful Jason." Reginald said as he pivoted his stick back to smack hard into the cue ball which sent the fifteen sold and striped balls scattering. He sank two solids and moved to line up his next shot.
"Yes she is." Jason responded searching the restaurant and letting out a soft sigh once his eyes rested upon her. She was holding Cameron as he was showing her a piece of paper he held in his hands and they both looked over at Jason and waved. He lifted his hand from around the pool stick and waved back with a grin growing wide on his face.
"So, where do you see this going? I mean…I don't mean to pry but I haven't seen you like this since I caught you and Robin at the Quartermaine boathouse the first summer after your accident." He missed his shot and tapped Jason on the shoulder pulling his attention from across the room. "Your shot."
Jason looked at the pool table and assessed he was stripes and walked around to take his shot. "Your guess is as good as mine Reginald. I don't know where this will go but since she's moving to New York City in a few weeks, I have a feeling I'll be traveling often. If she'll still wants to see me after we leave here."
"Oh, I think she will. She seems smitten with you which is strange since you aren't a very charming man." Reginald chuckled and made an odd face, crossing his eyes and sucking in his cheeks.
He made his shot and the next one while he and Reginald held the conversation. "I don't know about that. She said I am her Prince Charming."
"Prince Charming? Jason, I think Spinelli has you more accurately pegged."
Jason looked up and laughed as Reginald attempted to give his best menacing face and stance. "Are you drunk?"
"No, I'm Stonecold." He laughed and walked, attempting to mimic Jason with his arms out and his legs slightly bowed, over to the shelf along the wall to grab his beer. Jason laughed and then picked up the blue cue chalk and hit Reginald in the back with it.
After chugging down the rest of his beer and moving to the bar, purchasing another round for he and Jason, Reginald finally returned to his awaiting shot and moved in to sink the purple four ball in the side pocket. Just before he pulled back the stick, he looked up at Jason and asked, "Does she know what you and Sonny really do for a living?"
Pain flashed across Jason's face. His biggest fear since he met Elizabeth is what will happen once she finds out he is a murderer for the mob and that Sonny is the strongest Don in the northeast. He knew once she moved to New York, she would find out quickly. Regardless of their three hour distance, Sonny and Jason's holdings went far beyond Port Charles and their names were a commonality in news briefs and news articles throughout the northeast region.
Reginald saw the pained look on his friends face and needed no explanation. Then he noticed Letecia and Elizabeth heading toward them. "Heads up, here come the girls."
Jason swung around, stick still in hand and smiled. 'For tonight, I'm just a coffee importer.' He thought and reached out and grabbed her by the waist pulling her into his side. He leaned down and kissed her pulse point just below her ear. She moaned and leaned her head away from his to give him more canvas to paint his kisses on.
Reginald and Letecia displayed a similar pose and Michael groaned as he walked over to request more quarters. Jason pointed to the stack on the pool table and said, "Take half" then watched as Michael slid half the stack of quarters into his pocket and walked away.
"He's at that age where he's noticing girls but still thinks that for the most part, they are pretty gross." Jason laughed. He pulled Elizabeth tighter, "One day soon, he'll know just what you girls do to men."
"What do we do?" she asked coyly as she batted her lashes at him.
He groaned and his voice became husky and deep. "You make us weak. You make our minds go to mush and make us say and do things that are not manly."
"Not manly? Like what?" she asked as she leaned into him and put her fingertips into his back pockets giving a light squeeze. He tensed and let out a shaky breath.
"Like write poetry and sing love songs and…and…dance." He gave a look on his face as if he smelled burnt toast. "Then you touch us and we lose all reason."
He reached back and pulled her hands from his pockets and pushed her arms down to her side. Patting them to stay put.
"How have I made you lose all reasoning?" She asked turning around to watch him shoot the red seven ball.
Reginald spoke up with a grin on his face, "Well, Prince Charming over here just sunk my solid instead of his stripe which leaves me with the eight ball. He is an expert pool player and this will be the first time I ever have a chance of beating him so, I would say you are very much a distraction Miss Webber."
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When they returned to the hotel, they discovered that Letecia and Reginald's room was on the same floor about eight doors down from Elizabeth. Elizabeth disappeared into her hotel room while Michael, Morgan and Jason waited near the elevator saying good night to Letecia and Reginald. They also took that opportunity to call Carly.
Elizabeth and Cameron were walking down the hall as Jason was finishing up getting his tongue lashing from Carly. She had changed into a pair of light green matching sweat pants and hoodie and Cameron was wearing Spongebob pajama shirt and pants and Squidward slippers, holding on to a stuffed teddy bear.
Jason looked up and saw them walking toward him and sternly voiced, "Goodnight Carly" and closed his phone. He looked down at Cameron's pajamas and teddy bear and looked back up at Elizabeth with a curious look.
"I figured it would be easier if he falls asleep before we get back from our walk that he already be in his pajamas." She answered his unasked question.
"Well, let's go." He said and he picked up Cameron and hearing Morgan whimper, leaned down and picked him up as well. With two four year olds on his hip, he had a hard time with no contact to Elizabeth but she read his mind and slipped her hand into his back pocket and followed he and Michael into the elevator.
Once they got to the suite, Jason instructed Michael as he walked around and checked that the phone was operational, that Michael's cell was charged, that the windows and doors were locked and that he had all the numbers he needed in case of emergency. Elizabeth helped Morgan put his clothes away from his suitcase and refolded some of them while the little boy changed into his Superman pajamas. Elizabeth giggled when Morgan told her that he loves his Superman pajamas because they remind him of his uncle because Jason "really is Superman". He said it so seriously that Elizabeth could do nothing but confirm that she did think she saw a big red 'S' on his chest at the pool the day before. Morgan looked at her curiously but jumped up on the bed and climbed under the covers next to Cameron.
Jason walked in with two juice boxes, poking the straws into the holes and placing one on each night table next to each boy. Michael was busy queuing up the Cars movie that they had already agreed to watch from the pay channel. Jason kissed Morgan on the head and wished him goodnight and then did the same to Cameron once the little boy asked, "What about my night night kiss Jason?"
Elizabeth did the same thing with both boys and promised Cameron she would be back soon and that if he needed her, Michael would call her on her cell phone for him. Cameron was fine with that reassurance and the movie started pulling both boys attention away from the adults.
With the side lamp next to the dresser on low, Jason turned off the overhead light and followed Elizabeth and Michael out into the living room area of the suite.
"Michael, we aren't leaving the property here at The Floridian. Actually, if you go out on the balcony, you'll be able to see us in a few minutes. If something happens and the phone doesn't work, just yell. I'll hear you."
"Okay Uncle Jason. Can I watch something different out here?" Michael said picking up the remote.
"Nothing more than PG13." Jason responded. "Do you need anything before we go?"
"Nope." And Michael clicked on the TV effectively dismissing them without more words.
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They strolled down toward the beach and settled into two lounge chairs in the sand in a position that Jason could look out at the water but see the windows and balcony of his suite in his peripheral vision.
Within minutes of small talk, Jason had tugged Elizabeth out of her chair and into his lap. They talked and kissed and petted each other. Each exploring the other a little more boldly as the night progressed.
By the end of their first hour on the beach, the talking had stopped and the kissing was becoming intense.
"Maybe we should go for a walk." Elizabeth suggested knowing that they were quickly losing themselves to the passion they were both feeling. His hardened cock had been twitching against her hip for the past half hour and his hand had just traveled underneath her shirt.
"Hmmm?" he asked kissing down the column of her neck and heading for the exposed swell of her breasts.
"Jason, if we don't stop, we won't stop." She said trying to pull herself from his grip.
"What if I don't want to?" he asked looking up at her and loosening his grip, sliding his hand out from underneath her shirt.
She zipped up the zipper of her hoodie where he had slid it down earlier and stood.
Jason immediately pushed on his jeans to try to relieve and reduce his throbbing member. Once he felt he wouldn't be tented when he stood, he slowly climbed up and looked at Elizabeth.
"I'm sorry I pushed." He said still trying to concentrate on dogshit, bullfights, bloody knuckles or anything other than what one Elizabeth Webber was doing to his body.
"Jason, you didn't push." She took his hand and started walking, pulling him with her. "I just don't want to be a one night stand and since I'm leaving Saturday, we only have one more day together. I don't want to ruin it by sleeping with you."
"What are you talking about? Why would us having sex ruin tomorrow?" he stopped and turned her to look at him.
She looked at her feet and shuffled from one to the other. He used both hands to still her by her shoulders and when she still wouldn't look up at him, he used his finger to lift her chin until their eyes met. "Why would making love to me ruins things?"
"Because once you get that, there's no reason to want to hang out with me anymore." She said letting all of her air leave her body with the words.
"What? Why would you think that?"
"Well, isn't that what guys do? They charm women until they get some then walk away. Especially women like me."
"Women like you?" he paused watching the unsettling emotions play across her face in the moonlight. Realizing they had never even talked about the future for them, he dropped his hands and slumped his shoulders. He took in a deep breath and let it out. "Elizabeth, we need to talk."
"No, it's okay. I understand."
"No, I don't think you do. I wasn't planning for this to end when we leave here unless you tell me you don't want to see me. You keep telling me I throw money around and maybe that's a little true but you don't understand why. I have a lot of money but me, personally, I don't really need much of it. However, I use it to make people I love happy. I spend my money to make everyone around me happy and comfortable. I haven't been spending money on you or Cameron for any other reason than to make you happy. I don't expect anything from you because of it."
"I didn't say" she started but he held up his hand effectively cutting her sentence off.
"I live in New York but even if you hadn't taken the job in the city, I would have flown to Colorado or wherever you were to see you as often as you would have allowed me. Since you DID take the job and Port Charles is only about three hours away and really less than thirty minutes by plane, I don't see a reason why I can't see you and hopefully date you and…get to know you and Cameron more. That is if you wanted to. But if you only see this going on for as long as we're here at Disney World, then I'll take what I can get. And you don't have to sleep with me to keep me around. I like being with you. Would I like more? Of course. I'm a man and you are the sexiest woman I have ever met but it's not just your incredible external beauty that makes you sexy. It's…well, it's everything about you. Inside and out."
He stopped figuring he had said enough and now the ball was in her court. He just hoped she didn't walk away. Time seemed to stand still and Jason grew worried the longer she didn't respond. He dropped his head realizing she wasn't going to and stared at the white sand beneath his boots.
Finally Elizabeth processed all of his words and smiled. "Jason?" he looked up and returned her smile with his own. "I have two things I need to tell you."
"Go on" he prodded. The smile was all he needed to know she wasn't going to walk away, at least not tonight.
"First, my job isn't in New York City. It happens to be in a town called Crimson Point. It's on the Hudson near a town called Port Charles. And second, when I asked you yesterday if you believed in love at first sight it is because I feel like I am falling in love with you."