"You cannot follow simple instructions to save your life…I said keep them closed!"
Sam laughed out loud, squeezing her eyes shut again when he busted her quick peek that didn't give her much information anyway.
"I don't know why you're being so mysterious - it's not like you've never brought me to the cabin before, Jason."
He dropped a quick kiss to the top of her head as he brought her to stop at the front door, one hand covering her eyes, while the other threw the door open.
"Maybe, but I want you to get the full effect all at once. Don't look till I tell you."
"Okay, Mystery Man…whatever you say."
"Remember those words…" he whispered seductively in her right ear, "…later."
"They're good anytime you're ready to collect." Sam laughed again, the anticipation filling her like an eager child, in conjunction with the curiosity that was killing her slowly. She was ready to burst by the time he'd stopped them in the middle of the room and spun her around a couple times slowly.
"Wh-at are you doing?" she laughed mid circle, the warm, rosy feeling inside her filling her completely.
"Making sure you don't cheat anymore." Her happiness pleased him. Things had been too tense and out of their control of late - he needed to make her smile. He brought her to a stop and released her shoulders. "Okay…look now."
Sam stopped smiling when her eyes eased open. Their little rustic cabin had been transformed into a huge white tent with wall to wall white, draping, flowing silk that pooled in heaps to the floor, serving as backdrop to multicolored, oversized cushions on brocade mats arranged everywhere and large, painted urns standing in each corner. Huge, aromatic candles burned in holders around the room to bathe them in soft light, giving the place the air of a dream.
"Ohh, Jaaason!"
Sam's eyes welled up immediately.
"Jason…what is all this? When did you do this?"
He took her right hand in his, reaching out to wipe the tears that escaped her beautiful eyes and smiled at how emotional she got lately.
"I had a lot of help." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers softly. "We didn't get the chance to take a honeymoon and we won't be able to travel again until after the baby comes." He wiped more tears that pooled and spilled down her smooth cheek. "I didn't even get to give you a proper wedding night…so," He took her other hand and squeezed them both gently, "…I'm taking you to Dubai for the night."
Sam looked around her again, blinking so the blinding tears would let her see, drinking in the beauty of his surprise for her. She turned back to the face of the man who owned her heart and soul, her watery smile bright as she gently shook her head. "I LOVE you, you know that?"
"Not like I love you, baby!"
She didn't know about that…he had a helluva lot of love to compete with. Her heart ached with the extent of what it held, and as he led her to an ornate, tufted camel colored chaise near the window, she smiled at being the luckiest woman in the world. She loved him so much!
Jason held her hand and helped to seat her on the chaise.
"I don't get to spread out on the pillows on the floor?"
He smiled teasingly. "You could, but you'd probably never make it back up with that beautiful pouch you're sporting."
Sam stroked their baby and chuckled. "You're probably right." She laid back on the chaise and chuckled again. "What now…you're about to feed me grapes and fan me to sleep?"
One eyebrow raised amorously. "Oh, I have something much more enjoyable in mind first." After that everything happened like a dream for Sam, who lounged while her husband sat beside her and uncovered the trays next to them, unveiling the succulent aromas of grilled meat and spices.
Leaning over to taste her delicious lips that parted slightly with anticipation, Jason licked her with his tongue, then used his fingers to feed her flavored bites of aromatic rice with chunks of chicken, shredded carrots, currants, raisins and nuts, watching hungrily as she licked the morsels from his long, strong digits, flicking her tongue around in the process. The way her voluptuous body purred brought his lips to her again.
She wanted him. Right there in the middle of their one night paradise in the middle of their cabin in the middle of their private woods, she grew hungrier for him than she did the food, and before long, she took the fingers that had just fed her the last bite, slowly licking each one clean as she reached out to grope the front of his increasingly bulging trousers.
In one fell swoop, a ravenous Jason rose from the chaise and swept her up in his arms and over to the fire, where he went down on one knee and laid her gently on the mountain of pillows, his eyes never leaving her face as he roamed every perfect feature that had stormed his mind. He was starving for her.
"Are you okay?" He brushed her lips tenderly, feeling her head bob in response.
"Mhm…and getting even better by the second." She pulled his lower lip between hers and washed it with her tongue, darting between his lips to tease and invite. "I want you, Jason."
Grunting out loud when the pleasure from her taste and her words smacked his brain, Jason roamed a heated hand over her calf and up a sensual thigh, bringing with him the long, loose dress as he laid out behind her body. Taking command of their kiss with a seeking hot tongue that brazed past inviting lips to taste her, his hand stroked a hot trail to her womanhood where he found her moist and warm for him, evoking yet another grunt when his rock hard member throbbed in anticipation against her luscious ass cheek.
Burning with mounting desire, Sam reached back to grope his hardness, moaning when she felt how ready he was for her, frantically freeing the zipper that still held him from her. Making short work of the button as well, she reached hurriedly inside the boxer briefs to feel him - solid, veined, ready…
"Jason!"
Her voice wrought with need, sent daggers to his ears when his own bubbled over to guide him to her entrance. His lips travelled from her face down across her neck, as he eased slowly into her, feeling the working of her hips that drew him in even more.
"Hm - baby!"
She felt warm and moist as she cocooned and clamped him, and when he pulled slightly out of her, his brain slammed him to go right back. He licked the soft silk of her neck as his rod reentered its sheath, scraping her walls to be fully encased in their depths, sending him to great heights when she pushed back enchantingly against him and grabbed the back of his head to hold him to her.
Her brain was mush and her insides were flames, the goodness of him filling every part of her with delicious sensations from his slow rhythmic thrusts. Instantly she became weepy and happy, the feel of him glorious as he moved inside her and his fingers set fire to her right breast, where they crept inside the sagging dress to clasp and mold her. One more wonderful thrust of his silky hardness sent the cap bursting off the dam, clenching her muscles as shockwaves electrocuted every nerve ending and hair follicle, her cries of pleasure echoing all through the room.
The sounds of her satisfaction were music to his ears, eliciting a smile to his lips as he eased out and turned her to face him.
"I want to see you." The whisper was low as he brought both her legs together and guided them over his right hip, pulling her back to the tip of his still rigid shaft.
Bending his head to claim a pouty nipple as he eased gently back into her, Jason locked eyes with the electric browns that bored through him that drank from every part of her. Licking her softly, he remembered how very sensitive she was during pregnancy, and as her hand stroked his head, he once again felt the sweet movement of her hips that welcomed and worked him inside her. Unable to fight the grunts that rocked him whenever he was in her warmth, his eyes closed to the thrill for a brief second, opening again when the need to see her was more.
Breaking reluctantly from her juicy breast, he moved his torso away from her, angling to pull her hips closer, desperate to bury himself completely in the best case he'd ever known. He watched as she pulled her luscious lower lip between her teeth, her eyes closing against his thrusts into her.
"Open your eyes, Sam." His voice was soft and urgent, missing the chestnut gems the minute they were masked, breathing easier when she opened them to him again. "I want to see you, baby. I want to see you feel me."
"You feel so good!" She moaned as pleasure grew in her belly and coursed through her body.
Her pace against him grew as she indicated she wanted more. Unable to look away from increasing pleasure that blossomed in her eyes, Jason grabbed her hips and held them in place, stroking her wet, snug walls and reaching the soft, velvet part of her that erupted her into tears and broke out the cries he'd become accustomed to. He thumped her pleasure spot until she spasmed again, clutching him tightly as he drove into her, wringing his own juices when his body locked and the spurts sprung forth.
Dipping his head to a tender breast again, he'd lost her eyes when her head went back to release the cries of ecstasy that echoed his grunts of pleasure. He'd seen stars…with the windows closed to the night and not one of them in the cloudy skies, his soulmate had succeeded to release a galaxy of bright wonders behind his closed eyelids.
He came down from his high to her soft, satisfied chuckle. "We really are like horny teenagers…we can't even get through a meal without ripping each other's clothes off." His head was still buried in heaven on her breast where she still stroked his hair and ear.
"Speak for yourself little girl - I'm still fully clothed."
The chuckle morphed into the rich, beautiful laugh he was hoping for, and she pinched his ear.
"That's even worse. We couldn't even wait to get undressed."
Pulling her nipple back into his warm mouth, he flicked her with his tongue then grinned, "As long as I get access, I have no complaints." He kissed the soft skin exposed by the deep vee of her dress and nudged the bra away from her other breast, pulling her nipple softly to lick it gently, quickly bringing it to pinky hardness. "Mmmm…delicious!"
Sam pressed her chin into her chest so she could watch him as he milked her softly, loving the feel of him against every part of her, wallowing in how rich her life was with him in it. He'd given her so much, filled her heart so completely, that she would die without him.
"I love you - did I tell you that?" She felt the smile that formed on the lips that scorched her skin and sent tingles to her lower regions.
"Say it again!"
Pressing her lips hard to the tip of his ear to crush it to his head, she did just that. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
Her nipple felt instantly cold the second he raised his head to meet her eyes, his, smoky with desire and something more.
"I love you, too!"
He hungrily claimed her lips, imparting the strength of the emotions he endeavored her to see, soft succulence teeming between them when he pecked her once more and reached into his pocket.
Sam looked down at the tiny object that felt cool against her skin where he'd placed it between her breasts.
"What's this?" She brought it to where she could see it clearly. "A flash drive?"
"Your wedding present."
"I thought those beautiful diamond pins were my present?"
He traced a finger along her cheek and smiled. "Okay, your marriage present then." When her eyes narrowed questioningly, he added, "Our wedding lasted for one day, but our marriage will last a lifetime. This gift will too."
Intrigued, Sam started to scoot up on her elbows, and after planting one last kiss to her lips, Jason relented to let her up.
"I don't have my laptop - what's on it?"
He sat next to her and raised one knee to house a lounging arm as he told her, "McCall and Jackal PI is going global."
"What? Jason, what are you talking about?"
"Okay, hear me out. I know the business is yours and Spinelli's, but since I came back I just haven't wanted my old job back - not in any way, shape, or form." He took her hand and played with her fingers absentmindedly. "Anything that can take me away from you and the kids again…I want no part of."
Sam tucked her hair behind an ear as she breathed a sigh of relief. She'd never ask him to choose or to give up anything that made him happy, but she wouldn't say his words didn't thrill her and stifle an unspoken fear.
"I get that, and I want you to do whatever it is that will make you happy, Jason. You know that, right?"
He nodded as he continued to study her fingers, his heart already long ago clear on the truth spoken in her words.
"What's made me happier than I've ever been is you - you and our family. Me and you working together always felt right to me, and in the past few months I've been reminded of what a great team we are - how natural and effortless we fit." He looked up to face her waiting eyes. "We have more money than we'll ever need. Our children's futures are secure, and they will remain that way, even when we invest some of that money in your business. Spinelli could open a branch in Portland and head that office there, while we open a few more around the country, later the world."
"You want to open more offices?" She heard and agreed with everything he said, still it hadn't quite sunk in yet.
"Yes. Hiring Curtis and Shawn gave me the idea…you've been having to turn down cases left and right because you were pregnant and understaffed. With these guys coming onboard and me there to manage the field work while you're nurturing our newborn, we'll get the local office back on track. Once you're fully back in the game, I say we spread out and let you soar like you were meant to. Portland, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles…we can test out the major metropolitan cities, take on different types of cases - corporate espionage, forensic accounting, cyber theft…and see what happens from there."
Sam was floored. She loved her career and knew there was nothing she was better suited to do in this town, but she'd never really thought about expanding past Port Charles, especially after they'd started a family.
"Jason, I love you for coming up with this…but I would never want someone else to raise our children. This would mean weeks at a time away from home, getting these locations up and running, not to mention the constant traveling for cases. Our children would hardly know me."
"That's the beauty of the age we live in, baby. With technology as advanced as it is today and getting moreso by the minute, we won't need to live on the constant travel…we'll stock the offices with local, talented experts and be able to effectively communicate constantly. With live streams and video chats and WebEx - we won't need to leave the living room half the time."
"And you'd be okay with that? It would be enough to fill you? Baby, you crave the rush you get from speed and danger…I don't want you to do this only to have it slowly kill your spirit, little by little."
"I've had enough danger to last me a lifetime, Sam - it's growing up time now. Besides, you know PI work comes with its own element of dangers and risks - we can't run from it…but I'm no longer interested in seeking it out for no reason. Our family has become so much more than any old thrill from before." He shifted his hand as his gaze held hers. "Do you remember when Michael wanted to join the business?" After her nod, he continued, "Scared the crap outta me…but what did I expect - it was the only example Sonny and I had ever set for him. We told him over and over to do whatever else he wanted with his life, but in the end, the business was what we showed him." He reached out and gently pushed the hair back behind her ear. "I don't want that for any of our children. I want my son to be proud of me, to be proud to say what his dad does. I want him to have something he'd be proud to be a part of…that I can teach him."
Intrigued and growing more excited at the prospect, Sam looked from him to the flash drive, her mind running through the varied possibilities. McCall and Jackal offices everywhere? Her husband at her side in every way, building an empire together…a legacy for their children?
Throwing her arms around the neck of the man she loved so much, Sam heard the sound of her heart beating out of her chest and felt every thump it took for him. He loved her. Thoughts of her and what she needed were constantly on his mind, and she'd never felt anything like the surge at the realization that this man truly saw, felt, and cherished her…Samantha nobody McCall…the con from the wrong side of the tracks who nobody else ever gave a rat's ass about, who men always left and women always hated, who life had trampled and love had spat at…was the most loved and cared for woman in the world. He was priceless. She clung tighter, her arms circling and probably cutting off circulation and his oxygen, but she couldn't let up. He loved her, saw his life with her centermost in it, planned his dreams with her riding pointedly next to him, would take not a single step without hers being the one imprinted there with him. She loved him so much!
"Is that a yes?" His strangled breath squeezed the words out even as he refused to unlatch her crushing hold on his neck. So what if he died in the arms of the love of his life? It's the only way he ever wanted to go.
Laughing hysterically as she eased the hold and fell away from him, Sam wiped the huge globs that splattered from her eyes and streamed her cheeks. "Yes!" His smile lit her heart already bursting with light. "Yes - let's do it! Let's build our future together!"
"Good. How about we test out some of the new video equipment at the office tomorrow and call Spinelli to see if he agrees?"
"You know he will. It's always been his dream to work right beside you…Ellie better watch him - he's likely to pack up and move back to Port Charles just to fulfill that one."
They laughed together at the memories of Spinelli often donning Jason's favored all black attire in attempt to join the occasional caper, always being turned down in favor of Jason making sure he kept his hands clean and stayed away from the danger.
When her stomach grumbled, Jason smiled and stood to his feet, scooping her as he went. "Let's get our little one fed." He laid her back on the chaise and uncovered another tray to reveal a heap of tiny, fried goodness, instantly sparking Sam's interest.
"Yum - what are those?" She opened up for him to pop a golden morsel in her mouth. "Tastes like a donut!"
"Luqaimat, and yes - it's fried dough." He reached for another treat, this one also golden brown and round, but tasting more like a cookie. "Khanfaroosh." Sam watched as he finished the bite she left between his fingers.
"Yummy. What's next?"
"Next, you finish your dinner. Leave the rest of dessert for later."
She had no problem with that as they fed each other the various dishes, mainly comprising of some type of rice and meat, Sam not remembering the name of a single one two minutes after Jason told her, but delighting in the tastes and textures that assailed her taste buds and filled her appetite. She was opening her mouth to take the last bite, when something warm raced down her thighs.
Grabbing Jason's hand and squeezing it hard, she watched the startled look transform his face.
"What?"
Looking down, Sam pointed to the pool that was running down the chaise.
"Oh, wow!" Jason looked at the liquid and his heart leapt through his chest.
"Oh, wow is right! Jason, my water just broke!"
The next minute she was in his arms on the way out the door, soon speeding down the country road that would take them back to town. Looking at his calm demeanor, Sam was the only one who could tell how nervous he'd gotten. She smiled knowingly as the contractions that had been throbbing idly in the background all night neared center stage, even as she realized that she'd felt something on and off during the day but it had never felt more than a momentary flutter of a mild stomach ache…never pain.
"Jason wait - the candles!"
"Let the damn place burn - I'll build you another one!"
When she looked at him like he was being ridiculous, he cursed beneath his breath and turned the SUV around, soon screeching to a halt as he simultaneously bolted from SUV to cabin. He was back in less than a minute, the screeching sounding again when he tore the SUV from the cabin and set them back on the path to civilization.
Reaching for her phone, Sam called her sister who was spending the night at the penthouse with Danny. After the squeals, Molly was able to hang up and go in search of the overnight bag.
"This is it!" He turned onto the main street towards the hospital, then reached for her hand and squeezed. "Are you ready?"
"Jason, this is the third time I've been pregnant."
"Yah?"
She squeezed his hand until he looked towards her, tearing his eyes off the road for a minute, as she finished.
"This is the third time we've done this, but it's the first time that we get to do this." She knew that was confusing by the lines that appeared in his scowl. "THIS…driving to the hospital to give birth, like normal parents. We've never had this before." Sam felt herself being glad that the sudden, emotional tearing up was going to come to an end soon, when tears suddenly filled her eyes and blinded her vision. She sniffled, then crushed Jason's hand when the first real contraction shot through her. "Ooooouuuuuuuui!"
When the bones in his hand cried in protest and his wife sounded her agony, Jason's foot crushed the pedal to the floor of the SUV, sending them soaring through the gates of the hospital.