A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like Liason's hotness – a lot more in this chapter. * I can't get rid of Tom too soon. The whole premise of Liz living in the penthouse is based on him being at large.

Chapter 26 – Torture

Manny grabbed Johnny and they went to Elizabeth's room.

She put down her diary and watched them sit. "What's going on?"

"I did something. I'm not sorry that I did it, but I need you to know that I would do anything to protect you," Manny said.

Johnny and Elizabeth's gaze held for a moment. He was a little nervous. In the grand scheme of things, he really didn't know Manny that well or Elizabeth for that matter. "What did you do?" he asked.

"Well, I called my brother."

Johnny was surprised and Elizabeth had no idea what that meant. "Why? He's a loose cannon."

Manny sighed. "Look, I know he has a tendency to go overboard and do what he wants. I just can't let him get to her. No one can find him and you know he can and will. He won't stop."

Elizabeth put her arms around herself and Johnny stood up and she nodded, giving him permission to sit next to her. He held her hand.

"I know this is scary, but Javier would never hurt you. In fact, he's very upset that Tom attacked you. Elizabeth, he'll find Tom and he won't bother you anymore."

"I'm not sure what to think. Your brother is dangerous?"

"Yes. He's an enforcer and basically protects our family from any threats. He's feared, but he does have some principles. Bottom line is that he will get the job done."

"It's the control issues that bother me. You won't be able to reel him," Johnny said.

"I don't think we want to. Do we?"

Johnny sighed.

"Are you willing to entrust her life to a bunch of keystone cops? They are idiots and I can assure you that they will make mistakes and this will end up far worse. If they find him first, so be it. Javier will make sure he suffers in jail. Either way, Elizabeth is safe."

Liz blew out the breath she was holding.

Manny made sure she looked okay before he continued. "Do you want us to get Jason?"

"No. I can handle this." She didn't want to always rely on Jason. He wouldn't always be there.

He slightly smiled at her bravado. "Elizabeth, I spoke to Sonny about this. Did you have any intentions of maybe confronting Tom?"

"I want to."

"I'm sorry, but I have to put my foot down. I don't want you anywhere near that asshole. Javier wouldn't allow it either." He could tell that she was getting upset. "Now here me out. If you want to, I can let you talk to him on the phone. You can say whatever you want. He will not be allowed to say anything because I know that he's a psychopath and will try to say something to hurt you. Can you agree with that?"

Elizabeth squeezed Johnny's hand a little harder. "Okay. I just need to say some things to him."

"I understand. I'm just trying to protect you."

"I agree," Johnny said. He didn't want Tom to mess with Elizabeth's head.

"Anything else?"

Manny stood up. "No. Are you okay?"

She stood up. "I'm fine. Tell your brother thank you."

"I will. May I hug you?"

She slightly smiled and gave him a hug.

"You're very strong and I want you to know that I respect that. I wasn't trying to take your choices away, but I've run against people like Tom and unfortunately, I know how their minds work."

"I know. I trust you."

"Thank you." He didn't have any plans to let her down.

Manny left and she turned to face Johnny.

"Are you really okay with this?" she asked him.

"Honestly, maybe we should have thought of it sooner. It's just that Javier can be a little over the top. Trying to control the situation is not really working out. I know Sonny probably isn't really happy he's involved, but he'll deal."

"If I bump into Javier, should I run?"

Johnny grinned. "He'd catch you."

She frowned.

"I'm sorry, but he's fast. Listen, he wouldn't hurt you. If he shows up, then I think you should do what he tells you. Something may have gone wrong. He'll help okay?"

"Okay."

"But if anyone else you don't know approaches you, it's safer to run if you are alone. Francis will probably be your primary guard. He's really good and also taught me."

"You'll be around though, right?"

"Yes. You can't rid of me that easily."

"I don't want to."

Jason cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting?"

Johnny chuckled. "Yes."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "No."

Jason walked in and playfully glared at Johnny before pulling Elizabeth into his side. "What's going on?"

"I'll let her explain. See you later."

"Bye," Elizabeth said.

"Is something wrong?"

"No. Manny got his brother Javier involved and I guess he's a little crazy. He's an enforcer and apparently very good at killing."

"Wow. So, he's going to get Tom."

"Yup."

Jason sighed. "Well, as long as someone gets him I'll be happy."

"Me too. Francis is going to be my guard if I have to go out anywhere."

"Good." Jason liked Francis and knows that he's very focused.

John walked in. "Hey, you ready?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to teach Jason some moves in the gym."

"What kind of moves?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, Manny and I are going to show him some fighting techniques. We'll probably invite Johnny as well," John explained.

"Can I watch?"

Jason shrugged. "I guess."

"Come on," Jason said taking her hand. He was already in sweats and ready to go.

Nicole saw them walking and tagged along. Carly was in Tess's room.

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The girls watched as the other men taught Jason some proper fighting techniques.

"You have good instincts, but you telegraph your moves too much," Johnny said. He had watched Jason fight before. "When people are drunk in a bar, it doesn't matter because they aren't focused anyway. However, I can tell what you're going to do because of the way you lean your body."

Jason nodded.

"Watch."

John stood across from Johnny and they fought without hitting hard.

"When you throw a punch, this is how you hold your hand to do maximum damage and not hurt yourself," Johnny said as he moved.

Liz took it all in. When Jason rested, she got up. "Teach me."

Jason almost choked on his water.

"Seriously. Suppose something happens and I need to defend myself?"

Johnny smiled. "I'd rather show you some defense moves and how to get out of moves first."

"Okay, show me."

Nicole smiled. It was actually a good idea.

"Nicole, get off your cute ass and get over here too," John yelled.

She walked over to them. "I'm really not dressed for this." She went to take off her wedges.

"Leave them on. That's probably how you'd be dressed when you're out and about."

She stood on the mat and Manny grabbed her from behind and lifted her.

"What would you do Nicole?"

"I'd probably start kicking and scratching. If I could reach his foot, I step on it—maybe throw my head back to hit his."

"Okay, the head back is good. It's better to kick him in the shin as opposed to foot. Twist your body and use your elbow to the head," Johnny said.

"When he first started to touch you, drop down low," John said.

She nodded and watched as Johnny and Manny demonstrated a couple of moves.

They switched off between to the two women, let them rest, and then went back to Jason. They worked out for an hour and a half before taking a break.

"You're going to be sore tomorrow," Manny warned them.

"It will be worth it," Liz said.

Nicole agreed. "I think Jason will have it the worst."

He was lying on the mat with his eyes closed, not even bothering to respond.

John smiled. "I'm sure Liz will make him feel better."

Liz blushed and Nicole grinned.

"Nice hickey by the way."

Manny chuckled.

"Leave my girl alone," Jason said.

Johnny grinned.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"John, if you make me get up right now, I'm going to have to hurt you."

John laughed.

Liz gave him a look. "You're just a hater because you don't have one."

Everyone laughed and Jason turned his head and smiled at Liz. He was surprised that she had said that.

John grinned. He hadn't expected her to respond either.

"Come one," Nicole said to Liz. "Let's go take a shower before dinner."

Liz got up and followed her.

"A hickey?"

Liz giggled. "I guess I got carried away."

Nicole smiled. "Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure Jason didn't complain."

"Not really, but….." Her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure how to phrase it.

"What?"

Liz covered her face with her hands and then pulled Nicole into her room. "I didn't think about his body reacting to me."

"Oh. Yeah, that will happen. Just like you feel excitement in your body, he feels the same way. Did it bother you?"

"It scares me a little bit, but Jason always stops if I get uncomfortable."

"That's good right?"

"Yeah, I feel like I have more control that way. I just don't know a lot and I want to please him."

Nicole smiled. She was so damned cute when she blushed. "Trust me, learning with him will be fun. Just be in the moment. You'll know if he likes what you do. Let yourself go and when you like what he does, let him know it. You are both getting to know each other."

"I'm going to miss you," Liz said quietly. "I feel like I can tell you anything because you don't judge me or think I'm just this silly little girl."

Nicole hugged her. "I'll miss you too, but it won't be for too long. You'll have to take care of Johnny for me."

Liz smiled. "I will, but I will have my hands full with him and Jason."

"True. Sonny will help you. Now go give your hot man a massage."

Liz grinned. "That sounds really good."

Nicole chuckled as she watched her leave and then hopped into the shower.

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Jason stepped into his room as he towel dried his hair. He had a new pair of sweats on and no shirt. Elizabeth sat on his bed biting her lip. His chest and arms are magnificent.

Jason pulled the towel away and was shocked to see her sitting there. "Hey."

She smiled. "Hi."

He grinned. "When did you sneak in here?"

"A couple of minutes ago. Do you have any lotion?"

He frowned. "For what?"

"You can't answer a question with a question."

He smirked and went back into the bathroom and grabbed a bottle and walked over to the bed and handed it to her.

"Lay on your stomach."

He started to question her, but then just gave up and lay down.

She squirted some lotion into her hand. "I've only seen this on television."

He gave her a funny side look and she laughed. The minute she started touching his back he shivered and his eyes slammed shut. She began to rub his aching muscles. "Am I doing it right?"

"Perfect," he mumbled. The heat and pressure of her hands were lulling him into relaxation.

She continued for a while, loving the smoothness of his skin. "Turn over."

Jason flipped onto his back and watched as she put some lotion on her hands and then stared at his chest. "It's—it's okay to touch me."

She paused for a couple more minutes and then got to work. He regretted his words almost instantly when her fingers skimmed over his chest—her fingernails slightly raking against his skin. His cock twitched as she started to rub her hands over his chest. There was no way he was going to be able to stop himself from getting aroused. When her hands glanced against his nipples, his breath hitched and he knew she heard it because she slightly jumped. Continuing her torturous movements, she moved lower over his abs thinking it would be a safer area, and he bit his lip so he didn't moan.

Elizabeth had no idea she was having such a sexual effect on him until Jason, in desperate need of more, grabbed her hands and yanked her up his body, kissing her senseless afterward. She moaned as part of her exposed belly rested against his. His skin was hot and he was doing sinful things to her mouth, making her body vibrate. Jason was so incredibly turned on. Liz went to move and her leg touched his erection and she jerked back.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "You're—excited."

"That's an understatement," he muttered.

She slid to her side so she could look at him. Her hand slowly reached out and Jason groaned and slammed his eyes shut. Elizabeth was oblivious to his torture. Her fingertips grazed him and she felt his body jolt.

"Elizabeth….."

"Yeah?" she said not moving. It was growing bigger and she couldn't understand how that was possible when it was already so large.

"Um…" His words got stuck in his throat when her hand suddenly latched onto him.

"Wow," she said as her tiny hand gripped him.

Jason muttered some curse words as he fought for control. He had imagined how it would feel when she finally touched him, but it was nothing like the real thing. She was gripping him tightly and his need to thrust his hips was excruciating.

"Am I hurting you?"

"No," he croaked.

She turned to look at him, as she felt him throb in her hand. "Then why did you curse?"

"Because—uh—you're touching me and it's hard to hold back."

"Oh," she said removing her hand as she blushed. "I was just curious."

"It's okay. I just have to try and calm down or think of something awful, like that nurse with the hairy eyebrows."

Liz laughed. The fact that she had turned him on so completely amazed her. She remembered something Nicole said. "What did I do that you liked so much?"

Jason opened his eyes and looked at her. The intensity in his eyes made her mouth go dry. "Your touch." He reached up and ran his hand down her arm and Elizabeth shivered. "Imagine if I was touching you all over like that. It felt really good."

She bit her lip and nodded before looking back at his tented sweatpants. "You—should—finish." She did know that at the end of sex there were body fluids. Sarah and her friends would go into a giggle fit when they talked about blowjobs.

He groaned. "You're killing me. How do you know about finishing?"

"My sister and her friends would talk about putting that in their mouths or using their hands."

Jason's body twitched. Yep she was going to drive him insane. Now he had the vision of her mouth on him and he was impossibly hard again. "Elizabeth….."

The want in his eyes made her shiver. She wanted to please him. Even though she wasn't ready for him to touch her that intimately, she was very curious about touching him. Part of her just wanted to be prepared and not scared of him. "Can I help you finish?"

Jason groaned and jumped up and ran into the bathroom. It only took a minute for him to come and he washed up and leaned against the counter trying to get himself together. When he came back into the room, he wasn't prepared for the fact that she was crying. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?" he asked sitting next to her.

"What did I do wrong?"

He pulled her onto his lap and held her. "Absolutely nothing baby. I just—you're not ready for that yet. I can wait. I know you're curious, but I want us to be in a place where we can touch each other. You made me feel really good. Thank you. It's hard because I want to make you feel what I feel. We'll get there."

She nodded against his chest. "Okay. That helped me to be more prepared—to understand how everything works."

"I know and you can touch me anytime. I just want to wait to take things further until you're more comfortable letting me touch you more. Okay?"

"Okay. I trust you."

He slightly smiled. "I don't trust you at all."

Her head jerked back. "What?"

He laughed. "You just brought me to my knees without even realizing it. Those hands are dangerous."

She grinned and looked down at her hand. "Who knew?"

"Trust me, payback is a bitch," he said as he punctuated the words with kisses. A shiver went through her body as he began to relentlessly tease her mouth with his tongue.

"Jason. I think I'm going to like your kind of payback."

He chuckled against her lips. "Good to know."

She hopped up. "We're going to be late to dinner."

He got up and grabbed some jeans and a shirt and went into the bathroom and came out a minute or so later. "Let's go."

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When they walked up to the table, Nicole bit her lip so she didn't smile. Jason looked very relaxed and she wondered just how far Elizabeth had gone. They were going to have to have a talk later. Jason sat next to her and leaned over and whispered. "Was that your idea for her to torture me?"

She made a face. "That depends on if you're happy or not."

"You both are killing me."

Nicole chuckled. Yep. She was going to have to have a talk with her friend as soon as possible.