The hot water from the steamy shower did nothing to ease the heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach. It didn't matter that she used her favorite body wash. Or that there were at least twenty glowing candles scattered around the bathroom, thanks to Brenda. Nothing erased the memories of the night from her mind. She'd made such a fool of herself.
Just because he pulled out her chair. Held her hand. Smiled at her during the first second and third course. Danced with her like any adoring husband would. It didn't mean that he'd fallen victim to their little game. Feeling the same rush she experienced from the moment she spotted him looking so incredibly handsome in his tux.
And that kiss. Never in her entire life had she ever felt so alive. The moment their lips had met everything in her life seemed to just click together. All of the pieces just fit together. Made sense when her life was becoming some huge joke.
She was stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Men like Jason Morgan didn't fall for school girls like her. Their little sister's friends. With a boyish figure and practically non existent boobs. No, tall blonde and big boobed was more like it.
She was a little girl, playing on the adult playground. Those women had been right. She wasn't woman enough for someone like Jason. A frat boy at a keg party was more her speed. Clumsy, oafish boys she could handle. Oh, she knew the rules to the adult world. Had the training and polish to pull off a dinner party. But the man himself...
Looking down again at the ring on her finger, she moaned. "Good one Lizzie. Not only did you embarrass yourself, but Jason probably thinks you're the biggest fool."
"Is that why you left? You thought you made a fool of yourself?" His deep voice startled her. Causing her to spin toward the sound of his voice, almost slipping and ending up on her butt. Thank god for the frosted shower doors that separated them.
"J-Jason?" What a stupid thing to say. Of course it was him. Who else would be in their rooms after ten? But in her excuse her brain wasn't functioning correctly.
"Do you know how dangerous it was for the three of you to leave like that?" If she wasn't mistaken he sounded a little disgruntled.
A frown creased her brow. Not sure she appreciated having in invade the bathroom while she was showering to lecture her. "Johnny was with us."
"One guard, three women. Elizabeth I know this is all new to you. But Sonny and I aren't the most loved people in the world."
"We went out on our own last night..."
"And see how well that went?" This time he sounded amused. "Are you almost done? I think we should talk."
Looking down at her naked body, then back at the door that separated them. "I'll be done in just a minute."
"I'll be waiting for you in the living room." Jason took one last look at her silhouette and cursed darkly. What he would give to strip off his clothes and join. To be able to slid his hands down her soft curves. Hold her close, run his tongue over the smooth column of her neck. Wrap his arms around her slender waist, sink deep inside of her until she was panting his name.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he let himself out of the bathroom before he did something that would embarrass them both. He'd be a liar to say he didn't want her or that his manhood had taken a blow when he'd returned to the party and noticed her gone.
Walking around the suite, he didn't notice all the personal touches Johnny had been instructed to carry out. The scented candles, dim lighting or Champagne chilling on ice in the corner. What he had noticed was Elizabeth's dress balled up on the bedroom floor. Her shoes a few feet away along with her hose and garter belt.
Stopping at the window he let out a shaky breath. He needed to get a grip. Figure out how he was going to proceed from here. Sonny wanted him to spend some time with Elizabeth. No he'd ordered he spend time with his new wife. Out of all the orders he'd been given this was one of the best.
Honestly he didn't know what he was doing. Intelligence told him that he should end the marriage. Let her leave and live her life. She was still so young. Had so much promise, potential. Being married to him was going to change her life dramatically. But something primitive inside him wouldn't allow him to do the right thing.
He wanted her like he'd never wanted a woman before. It wasn't just physically. He'd had his fair share of women in his past. Hell he had one somewhere in the hotel. Could have Carly anytime he wanted her. But he didn't want her like that. What he wanted from her was her son. The little boy that meant the world to him.
"I hope you're not mad that we left." Elizabeth's soft voice floated over to him from the bedroom door. Spinning, his breath caught in his throat. Never in his life had he seen anything so beautiful. Standing awkwardly, in one of the hotel's fluffy towels she looked like an angel. Her wet hair hung in ringlets around her shoulders. A slight flush stained her throat and cheeks.
"No, just worried." Looking away, Jason scratched his temple. "I thought you were having a good time."
Elizabeth had a feeling that she'd hurt his feelings somehow. His face was guarded as he waited for her answer. "I was."
"Then why did you leave? Why do you think I would see you as a fool?"
Because she was a silly little girl who wished she could crawl into a nearby cave and live out the rest of her days. What was she supposed to say. That her feelings were hurt by some over padded middle-aged women. She realized what a love-sick little fool she was.
"It's nothing, just another Lizzie moment."
"I don't buy that." Jason shook his head. He could see the stubborn set of her chin and knew it was going to take ever ounce of patience he possessed to get the truth from her. "I could just ask Brenda."
Her eyes flared slightly before she shrugged her shoulders. "You're making a bigger deal out of this than what it is."
Jason studied her. She was good. Apparently his new wife was good at building walls and hiding behind them. Probably was good enough to fool most people. He wasn't most people. "Something happened."
It wasn't a question, but a statement. His inquisitive expression turned dark.
"No! Nothing happened." She sounded like a liar. If she were to look into a mirror she wouldn't be surprised to see liar written across her forehead. But she couldn't tell him. How embarrassing would that be? "So do you want to take the bed or the couch?"
"I want you to tell me what happened." Folding his arms over his chest, the back of his jacket stretched slightly, reminding him he could finally shed himself of the damn thing.
Elizabeth felt her mouth go dry as he hastily ripped off his jacket and toss it in the general direction of the couch. The man was huge. His hands were purely masculine as they rolled up his shirt sleeves. She wondered what they'd feel like against her breasts.
Stop! Her mind screamed as her body started to tighten. She was setting herself up for a fall. She had to be smart about this. "I-I'll take the couch. Just let me get dressed and the room is all yours." Mortified by her thoughts, she slipped back into the bedroom before he started asking more questions.
Shutting the door quietly behind her, Elizabeth let out a low groan. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." Slapping her hand against her forehead, she stopped and shook her head. Crossing to the room where her bags were placed she dug out her pale blue silk pajama bottoms and matching tanktop.
Throwing her robe on the bed, she took a quick look in the mirror above the dresser and made a face at her reflection. She was all skin and bone. How sexy was that? Turning to the side to stare at her side profile she shook her head in disgust.
Reaching out for the tanktop, she barely had it over her head when the bedroom door creaked open. Elizabeth watched in horror as Jason walked across the room to where his bags were and started digging through them. If he was aware that she was standing there half naked he didn't show it. His movements were calm and sure.
Grabbing the bottoms off the bed, she nearly toppled over as she tried to finish dressing. Her face scorching from embarrassment.
"You're not sleeping on the couch." Jason tossed the words out before tucking his shaving kit under his arm and entered the bathroom, leaving the door wide open. She watched as he stripped off his shirt, leaving him bare chested. Elizabeth held her breath as she watched in awe while he went about his nightly routine. The man was a god. His tan skin stretched over a chiseled frame. His movements were precise.
And he was staring right back at her. Shouldn't there be a law of how many times a person was humiliated in one day? Ten times sounded like a good round number.
His eyes were slightly narrowed, his mouth in a seductive little smirk.
Stumbling back a few steps, she felt the bed hit the back of her knees. Her stomach was doing those little flip flops again. Bed. She needed to crawl between the sheets, close her eyes and get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow she'd be able to think more clearly.
Settling her head on the cloud like pillow she barely had her eyes shut when she felt the bed dip. Her eyes shot open, staring in disbelief as Jason settled himself next to her. "I-I thought you were going to sleep on the couch."
Jason reached over and turned off the bedside lamp. "No, I told you I didn't want you sleeping on the couch."
"But..."
"Elizabeth this bed his huge. There is no reason why we can't share. I promise not to ravish your body without your consent." He fluffed his pillow, stopping to look over at her. "Or we could talk about what happened at the party."
Why that little sneak... "Goodnight." Turning over so her back faced him, Elizabeth could practically hear his shock. Apparently he thought he'd make her slightly uncomfortable she'd spill the beans. Jason Morgan needed to learn the most important lesson about her. She was stubborn. No matter how embarrassed she was, or how deep the humiliation hit, when she was determined not to do something there was no changing her mind.
Emily stalked through the door Johnny held open for her and slammed it in his face. What she wanted to do was open it again and slam it over and over again until her rage was spent. What did she ever see in him? He was a prick.
Flipping the lock before the over grown twit could reopen the door, Emily glared at the wood that separated them.
"Emily open this door."
Snorting Emily tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Or what? You did your job now scurry back to your masters."
"I swear to god, if you don't open this freakin door I'll kick it down Emily Quartermain."
"Not by the hair of my chinny chin, chin." Her flippant remark didn't make her feel better. But the frustrated growl did wonders.
"Have it your way." A loud slam made the door shake, making her jump to the side in shock. "Stand away from the door."
"Are you insane?" The door shook again and she hurried over to it, flipped the lock and threw the door open. "Are you happy now? Come on in Conan."
"What's wrong with you?" Not giving her a chance to close the door in his, Johnny hurried in. "I told you to wait."
Shrugging her shoulders, Emily tore at her wrap and dropped it to the ground. "It's not my fault you took so long to get to the elevator."
"You pushed the button to close the door before I could get there." He boomed in his defense.
"So what. You had to use the stairs, big whoops."
Growling several obscenities under his breath, Johnny wanted to shake her until her teeth clattered inside her head. Didn't she know how hard it was to see her like this? Having to stand to the side and watch her. Knowing that he couldn't talk to her. Make her laugh.
How painful it was not to be able to hold her close. His body ached with need. "So is this how it's gonna be every time we see each other?"
With a humorless laugh, Emily shook her head as she took out her earrings. "This was your choice, remember? I'm too young, too naive. Too much Jason's little sister."
"Jason would've killed me if he found out we were seeing each other behind his back. I'm an dick for keeping it a secret from him."
"Well you were right." Emily wanted to pick up objects and hurl them at his head. "I'm better off without you. College parties, college boys...I'm up to my neck in fun. A different guy every night..." Looking over her shoulder she watched as his face went from white to crimson red. "The frat boys are a little shallow. But once you get past that-."
"Shut up." Taking a step closer to her, Johnny's breathing came out in short rasps.
"But those football players." Licking her lips for effect, Emily made a little sexy sigh. "They sure know how to show a girl a good time-."
She didn't see him coming. For a large man she had forgotten how quick he could be. Grabbing her roughly by the shoulders, his lips were on hers before she could go on. His tongue slipped through he parted lips, demanding her to participate in the kiss.
Too soon he was pulling away. His eyes burning with rage. "I swear to god you better be joking Emily. Or I'll talk Jason into sending you to an all girl school... in Siberia."