Chapter 13
Note: I love the bold, sexy, take-charge Elizabeth in this chapter! Hope you do too!
May 2014
Michael spent his days going over the international accounts with A.J. and his evenings waiting for Sam to leave her room. The guy he hired to be there when he couldn't had confirmed that she was staying put. It worried him because Sam was a schemer and quiet just wasn't her style.
After eight days, she left only to quickly return. He figured her trip to the small drug store was innocent. He was wrong.
-gh-
Sam was thrilled. That little plus sign was just what she needed. A phone call was all it took to coerce Spinelli into telling her when Elizabeth's next appointment with Dr. Lee was. Sam scheduled her own to immediately follow it. She fell asleep smiling as she pictured Jason's face when he found out.
-gh-
Elizabeth had reached her limit. She needed her husband and he was hiding from her. She understood that there was a side to him he didn't want her to see but this was different. This was personal and it was slowly killing them both.
Audrey was excited to keep the boys for the weekend. She hadn't spent as much time with them over the last few months as she would have liked. Elizabeth needed her less now that she was married and Audrey could only take so many dinners with the criminal element. Elizabeth couldn't be mad because her grandmother really was trying. Just last week she had smiled at Jason and asked about his day.
With the boys gone, Elizabeth got to work. She asked Marco to move the living room furniture and then told him to stay off the porch. It was slightly embarrassing but she wasn't about to have Jason shoot the poor guy for seeing more than he should through a window. She then fixed Jason's favorite dinner and made sure the refrigerator was fully stocked with his favorite beer and her bottled water. A quilt and some candles were artistically arranged in the living room and a fire was laid one log at a time. This might be the last chance she and Jason had to really talk before the baby came and she was making the most of it.
-gh-
Jason knew he had to open up to his wife. Keeping things from her was wrong and it was destroying their marriage. He hated to burden her but losing her would be worse. He nodded to Marco at the end of the driveway and briefly wondered why he wasn't closer to the house.
The lights were off but there was a faint glow which puzzled him. Something wasn't right and, despite trusting the guard, he drew his gun as he slowly opened the door. He quickly lowered it as he took in the scene. Speechless, he somehow managed to get to the lock box in the closet and put away the gun before turning back to Elizabeth's surprise.
The glow came from the dozen or so candles around the room. The furniture was pushed to the walls and a quilt was spread in front of the fire. An ice bucket was on the floor next to it holding what appeared to be his beer. Two plates of steak and scalloped potatoes sat next to it. But none of that compared to his wife.
Elizabeth was naked on the middle of the quilt, her left hand absently caressing her stomach. Jason was mesmerized and watched as she somewhat clumsily stood. Her belly didn't make movement easy but once on her feet her grace returned. She slowly approached him and reached for his shirt. He helped her lift it over his head. She then moved on to his pants and he came to enough to take off his boots for her.
By the time he was undressed, they were both panting. She led him over to the quilt and then began to feed him. He wanted her more than the food but this was her night. Despite the fierce desire he let her set the pace.
Elizabeth knew he was holding back still and it was all she could do to keep from throwing out the plan and tossing her gorgeous husband down on the quilt. She was determined to push him until he broke though. Another bite. A sip of beer. Still another bite. Each movement only increased her desire for him.
With the meal finished, Jason reached for her but she shook her head. Pushing him back onto the quilt, she stood and straddled over him and ran her hands from her shoulders to her breasts and then over her protruding stomach. Jason groaned as one hand continued down until stopping between her legs. Her position gave him the perfect view of her beautiful body. Her head fell back as she pleasured herself for him. He couldn't help placing his hands on her legs and running them up to her knees. Close to peaking, Elizabeth sank down onto him. Surprised and delighted at her accuracy, Jason quickly took over. They found their release together.
Elizabeth moved to his side and cuddled up as close as her tummy allowed. "I love you."
Jason kissed her deeply. "I love you."
They both knew it was time to talk. As usual she went first. "I hate what happened to you. I hate that you were tortured. I hate that I got so close to Sonny. But what I hate the most is that we're together and you're shutting me out. We have wanted this for so long and it's falling apart. Jason, please don't let Franco destroy us. It's over. He's gone. Please be here with me and our children."
His grip on her loosened. "I'm sorry. It's just, it's just hard. My whole life I've made people pay for crossing Sonny and me. I can't make him pay. I've got all this anger and no where to direct it."
Elizabeth propped herself on her elbow. "Okay, let's hear it. Shout, throw things, let it out. I won't break."
Jason met her eyes. "All right." He shifted his gaze to the ceiling hoping that it would hurt less if he couldn't see her expression. "That asshole took me and spent over a year trying to break me. There were times when he almost did. At first I thought about Sam, you and Jake, Sonny and Carly and their kids. I worried that one of you would need me and I wouldn't be there. But then, I don't know, I just kept thinking about all the mistakes I made. Being helpless made me realize things. Like how I wasn't helpless before. I could have protected you and the boys if I had just taken the chance. If I hadn't been so afraid."
He shifted away from her slightly and ran a hand over his face. "And he knew. He knew somehow what you mean to me. He manipulated you and Sonny because nothing would hurt me worse. And it hurt! God, I had to stare at those damn pictures of your happy family and there was Sonny right where I wanted to be!" He stood up and she moved to sit against the couch. "Sonny kissing the woman I love! Sonny playing with my sons! As if I haven't given Sonny enough! Shit, my whole life I gave to Sonny and look what it cost us! Years, Elizabeth!"
Silent tears fell down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. If I had any clue that you were alive, I would, oh, God, I don't know what I would have done. All that mattered was protecting Jake because he was all I had left of you. I'm sorry that Sonny and I got involved. I'm sorry for that last kiss with him because, because that one was real. I'm sorry I forgot for even a moment how much it would hurt you." She rose and walked over to him. "But I'm not looking back anymore. All the bad happened but I need to focus on what came from it! Jason, we're here. We have Cam and Jake and soon Emily too. We have each other. This is the family I want and I won't lose it. I can't, Jason, because I wouldn't survive. I need you. I need you to let go and really be in this with me."
Jason took her in his arms. "I am. I am," he whispered as he kissed her again. "From now on, we talk. No matter how hard it is, we talk."
Elizabeth sighed. "Thank you. That's all I need from you."
They embraced and spent several long moments lost in each other's eyes. Then his began to sparkle in the candlelight. "That's all? Cause I need a hell of a lot more from you." He took her chin in his fingers and pulled her mouth close to his again. "I always need more." He kissed her passionately and lowered her back to the quilt. He may have returned months ago but he was just now truly coming home.
-gh-
Something woke Jason and he glanced down at his wife. Her eyes were closed but her face was tense. He then felt it. Her stomach was tight. "Are you in labor?"
Elizabeth opened her eyes and nodded. "Sex can trigger it."
He took a deep breath. "Um, you're not due for two weeks."
She laughed. "You tell the baby that while I get dressed. I think she's coming tonight."
Jason was speechless for a moment but then quickly dressed. He couldn't wait to meet their little girl.