Chapter 38

A Well Dressed Sleaze and Penny Porn Star

The day in the office had gone by mostly unnoticed by Elizabeth. She had so much weighting down her mind. Jason had been gone for more than ten days and she hadn't slept more than twelve hours in the past four. Her insomnia had been gradually growing worse and her boss finally sent her home when she blatantly fell asleep in a meeting with the medical insurance agents.

"I'm fine, really." She stated walking into her office.

"No, no you are not. Look, I am here to listen if you need but once again, you are no good to me in this condition." Leslie stated. Jane was following close behind her into Elizabeth's office.

"I have already been out two weeks. I have so much work on my desk."

"It will wait. Besides, you work from home just as efficiently as you do here. You don't truly have two weeks worth of piled up work and I know it." Leslie reasoned with her HR Manager. "I can't have others seeing you fall asleep on the job. You have been through a lot. I KNOW how hard this miscarriage is. You have put on the mask that you wore so well before but, you need to process things. Maybe you should contact Doctor Winters again.

"I am fine and please just leave it alone." Elizabeth forced as tears welled in her eyes.

"Well, we can't afford to lose you for six weeks again so please do something." Leslie finished and then turned on her heels and walked out of the office.

"You okay?" Jane asked.

Steeling herself she wiped a lone tear away, "I am fine. I just need to get some sleep. That's all."

"Well why don't you get some sleeping pills from your doctor?"

"No, I'll be fine. We have a gig tonight so that should wear me out."

"I hear your mother is coming to town this weekend." Jane queried as she unwrapped a piece of hard candy from Elizabeth's always filled candy jar.

"Yes, she and Bob will be here sometime tonight. They have a room on the beach at the Ritz. I think their flight is pretty late. We have plans to meet them for dinner tomorrow. Well, if Jason even comes home that is." She responded somewhat dejectedly. She picked up her briefcase and opened it on the edge of her desk. She knew that Leslie was right and since tomorrow was Friday and she definitely needed her sleep. Elizabeth could not imagine how she was going to get through the gig tonight OR her weekend with her mother. 'Please Jason, you have to come home.' She thought to herself.

Jane walked to the doorway and looked back. "Bernie and I are thinking about you. Let us know if you need anything." And she left to return to her own office.

Elizabeth checked her email, put her desk phone on the custom "Forward to Cell" feature and started clicking out of the many open programs on her computer.

Charlene stepped in to view. "You had a visitor earlier."

Looking up to see her friend and co-worker standing in the doorway, she asked, "Really? Who?"

"He was that bass player in your band. I don't remember his name. He left something and said to tell you he'd see you tonight."

"Oh, okay. I wonder what he wanted."

"He dropped off a CD." Charlene stated as she pointed to a corner of Elizabeth's desk where the burned CD sat. "He said to listen to it and pick 4 new songs."

"Shit, he's always pushing new stuff. I guess that's why we earn the big bucks though." Elizabeth smirked with a wink to Charlene as she picked up the CD from the corner of her desk and read practically the same words on a blue sticky note that Charlene had just vocalized.

"Are you taking off?" the older woman asked pointing to Elizabeth's now opened and half full brief case.

"Yes, Leslie said not to come back until Monday."

"Well, you look like death warmed over, kiddoe. You know, if you ever need to talk."

"Charlene"

"I know, I know. You are just like me. Swallow the pain whole and never speak of it again. I've been there."

"Charlene" she said softly knowing that her friend truly has known the pain Elizabeth was going through. Although somewhat different, Charlene had lived a rough life and the lines wore heavily on her face.

"What? Oh, okay" Charlene called out the door. "Elizabeth, someone is here to see you."

Picking up the phone and dialing the reception desk, "Who is it?"

"A Mister Sonny Corinthos" the Philippine woman replied.

"Send him back; he knows where my office is." Elizabeth said as a puzzled look crossed over her face.

"Who is it? OH" Charlene asked and then answered herself as the handsome forty something man came into view in the hallway walking purposely toward Elizabeth's office in a dark grey Italian suit with a cranberry colored dress shirt and matching tie and a black trench coat draped over his arm. An even taller, younger man dressed similarly followed behind him.

"Charlene, this is Mr. Sonny Corinthos, oh and Max, Max Giambetti. Sonny is Jason's partner. Max is their um…right hand man." Elizabeth stammered a bit not wanting to say Max was their body guard. "Guys, this is Charlene Wills."

"How very nice to meet such a beautiful woman" Sonny said flashing his trademark dimples and pulling her hand to kiss her knuckles as he took a deep bow.

"Oh my!" Charlene giggled and then scurried out of the office with a dark blush across her cheeks.

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth laughed as she watched Sonny put on his full display of charm and then looked over at Max. "What are you guys doing here? Max, you should not have come in. It is really hard explaining you guys."

"Elizabeth, I needed to talk to you." Sonny started only to be interrupted by a now worried Elizabeth.

"Is Jason okay?" She let out in a hurried breath.

"Jason's fine. I wanted to talk to you about…well…Max, go wait in the car." He turned and looked over at his guard who was ominously standing in the doorway, taking up most of the opening.

"Wait Max, I am leaving now to go home. I am going to try to get a nap before the show tonight."

"Oh, well then may I join you for the ride? I can have that talk with you and then get Rocco to drive me home."

"Oh yea, I need to call Rocco."

"Oh you haven't already? Then Max can do it."

"Okay, come on. I might be able to get in a two hour nap."

"After you" Sonny said as he put a hand to the small of Elizabeth's back and walked her out the side door of her office to her car.

"Would you like me to drive?" Sonny asked walking and taking her briefcase from her hand and then handing it off to Max.

"No, I'll drive."

"Okay then" and he held Elizabeth's hand and helped her in to her car holding the door for her and then stopping at the back of the car to speak to Max.

Elizabeth watched the exchange in her rearview mirror. 'What could Sonny want to talk to me about?' she wondered. Jason was fine. Sonny would not have lied about that and she would have read it all over Max's face were it not true. Is Jason going to be out of town longer? She watched as Max's face turned to a frown and he caught her eyes in the rearview. Something was wrong. She then watched as Max lowered his head and shaking it, walked over to the town car and climbed in. Sonny then quickened his step and slipped in to the passenger seat of Elizabeth's car.

"Why don't you have a new car?" he asked as she started driving down the road.

"I don't need one."

"If you were my girl, I would spoil you with Jaguars or Bentlys; diamonds and furs. What is Jason thinking?"

"He knows that I would not want those things." Elizabeth replied becoming weary of the way the conversation was starting.

"Elizabeth, you are a very beautiful woman. Smart and independent. Much like Kate. However, you are able to handle the life. You know Kate and I are no longer seeing each other."

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that Sonny" she said patting his hand as she looked over to the man who was intently watching her. A sudden chill went down her spine as she saw him lick his lips. She immediately withdrew her hand and placed it on the console only to have to pull it to her lap when he clamped onto it with his.

"You are the type woman I need. Someone who can handle me and my life."

"Sonny, why did you need to talk to me?" she asked nervously trying to steer the topic.

"I just wanted to see how you and Jason are doing. I know you guys have had your ups and downs. He's been gone for a few days now and the guards say you aren't handling things well."

"You could fix that you know" she said smirking.

"Could I?" Sonny said with a dimpled half smile as he took his forefinger and slid it up and down Elizabeth's arm from her shoulder to her elbow.

Elizabeth jerked her arm away at the same time noticing that she didn't see the towncar in the group of traffic behind her.

"Sonny, where's Max?" she asked wearily.

"I sent him to my house to pick up something for me. I can protect you."

"Ummm, I thought Max was to protect you?" she asked as she noticed him turn in the seat to face her.

"Who do I need protection from? You?"

"No" she laughed.

"Good, good. You know, I can please you. I can give you the world. You would never have to work unless you wanted to and…." she pulled her hand from his grasp after he took it and went to kiss her knuckles.

"Sonny, what the fuck?" she yelled

"You and I could be good together Elizabeth. Jason never has to know." he said as he moved his hand to her thigh.

"Sonny, I don't know what you are doing but you need to stop."

"I am asking if you would want to be with a man like me. I can take care of you in all the ways a woman desires." He said again moving his hand back to the place on her thigh that Elizabeth had just pushed it from.

"Sonny, if you touch me again I am going to stop the car. What's wrong with you? Are you drunk?" she asked as she shoved his hand away, again and slowed down to let Sonny know she was serious.

"No I am not drunk. I just don't understand how Jason be so lucky. I NEED a woman like you. I thought I had it with Kate but…"

"Well, I am not Kate's replacement. Besides, Jason is your best friend. What are you doing? He and I are…"

"You are what? I know you turned down his proposal. Jason can't fill your needs. You need a man to take charge like I can. You need a man to fuck you like a whore and then shower you with gifts."

The squeal of the tires caught his attention. "GET OUT!"

"Elizabeth, I am not getting out of the car. You can't leave a man like me on the side of the road. Keep driving." He said sternly as he moved his groping hands back into his lap.

"I'll stop" he said letting out a long breath.

She turned and focused her dark blue eyes into his piercing black ones. "Sonny, I don't know what you are doing but I love Jason. I would never cheat on him and I can't believe you think I would. If this is a test, then I don't appreciate it. I can't imagine Jason would go along with it. If this is because you are lonely and missing Kate, then find someone else. You could have any woman you want. Why would you do this to your best friend?" she asked as she started the car moving again, partly because of what Sonny said and partly because of the many honking horns behind her.

"Good answer. My best friend has been used by many women in his life. I wanted to make sure you weren't going to be one of them."

"So this WAS a test." She stated incredulously. "Does Jason know you are doing this?"

"No, no Jason does not know anything about this and he doesn't need to. I am glad to hear you are devoted to Jason but would love to get a taste of you myself. I desire you, Elizabeth."

"In other words, now that I passed the test good but had I not passed the test, you would have been more than happy to screw over your best friend by taking me to bed."

"Jason never has to know." He said as he slid his finger up her arm again and twirled one of her chocolate curls in it."

"Sonny, I am serious. If you touch me again, I'll stop the car and kick you out."

Sonny then clamped on to her leg and squeezed. "Let me show you what it's like to make love to a powerful man like me."

Elizabeth had had enough. She believed him fully that this was a test but also believed that he would be happy to follow through if she were to let him. She pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. "Get out." She said softly while turning to look at him.

"Elizabeth, I'll leave you alone. If you want me to."

"No, what I want is for you to get out of my car NOW!"

"I'm sorry but I can't do that."

"Fine, then I will." She said as she opened her car door and climbed out of the car.

Sonny jumped out of the car to go get her. As soon as Elizabeth saw him step away from the car she jumped back in and locked the doors. Rolling down the passenger side window a crack she spoke to him. "YOU ARE AN ASS!"

"ELIZABETH, LET ME IN THE CAR."

"NO, YOU LEACH."

Softening as he tried to open the door again to no avail. "Elizabeth, please open the door."

"You better call Max, you are going to need a ride home."

"Elizabeth, don't tell Jason about this. He wouldn't understand. I'm sorry. Just let me in the car."

"I am not going to tell Jason. However, if he asks, I won't lie to him. YOU need to tell him. Best friends don't do this to each other. I passed your stupid test, if that was truly what it was. See you later." She finished as she pulled away watching an astonished Sonny in her rearview mirror.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Boiling mad, Elizabeth drove home. She popped in the CD Shawn had left and rolled her eyes recognizing the first song. Janis Joplin. 'They just won't quit' she thought to herself and smiled. Some things never change. No matter how her life had been over the past two decades, she could always count on David and Shawn trying to convince her to sing some Joplin. Those two have stuck with her through everything.

"Shit" she said as she heard the sixth song playing. They were all about unrequited love. Waiting for someone. She and Shawn needed to talk.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Elizabeth could not sleep. The gig went well. She worked her ass off on stage but when it was time to sleep. Again sleep didn't come.

She pulled her laptop to her chest. "Let me read some of those short stories I like so much. Maybe that will help." She said aloud to no one but Popeye who lifted his head at her spoken words.

"You can't sleep either?" she chuckled patting his head. "You know, the bigger you get the more you look like Marmaduke."

"Ohh, Two Ships! I love that story and her writing. I hope she has updated a chapter." Elizabeth said aloud as she clicked onto the short story she had been reading for weeks.

"What are you doing?" Jason said as he stood in the doorway.

"JASON" she jumped throwing her laptop onto her pillow as she took two steps across the bed and leapt into Jason's waiting arms, peppering his face with kisses.

"Hey baby, did you get my messages today?" he said laughing at her exuberance.

"Yes, what was that all about? Have you been in town all day?"

"No, I had Spinelli do it. I have no clue how to do those things."

"Oh, when did you get back?"

"I just got in town about a half hour ago. I've missed you." He said as he kissed her neck.

"I have missed you too. Don't stay away so long anymore. I can't take it." She said straddling him and leaning back to get a look at his face.

"What did the messages say?" he asked holding her lower back with one hand and pulling her hair out of the ponytail she always wore to bed with his other.

"You don't know?" Elizabeth asked curiously looking into his eyes and then closing hers and shaking her head to let loose the rich brown curls to fall around her face and shoulders.

"You are beautiful." He murmured as he pulled her up to him and took in a deep breath through his nose to take in her scent. She always smelled so good. He could smell her shampoo and perfume. Orchids.

"It did not say that! Did you just tell Spinelli to type anything?" she slapped his black t-shirt covered chest.

"No. It said, MAN I NEED ELIZABETH. I was just saying you are beautiful. You are. I know what the message said."

"I guess you were feeling the same way I was. You know, I had a hard time this week"

"I know baby. I'm sorry."

"It's okay, just don't stay away so long anymore. I worry too much. It hurts me to be away from you. At least when I am out of town we can talk on the phone. I can't stand having NO contact with you when you are gone."

"I know baby, I know." He whispered pulling her earlobe into his mouth and sucking on it. He then licked the shell of her ear and traveled kisses down her neck.

"It's been four weeks." She said as she ran her fingers though his long mane. His hair had grown out to shoulder length and she loved the way his bangs floated into his eyes.

"Yeah, I need to be inside you." He said cupping her breast with his hand as he moved over to the bed and gently placed her in the middle while climbing on top of her.

"Mmmm, I need you inside me, too. Make love to me Jason." She said as she reached down and rubbed her hand across his growing erection his jeans were containing.

Looking over at the laptop noticing the picture of the pirate's ship he asked, "What are you reading?"

"Oh just some short stories on a website I found."

"What's the story about?" he asked closing the laptop and lifting it then placing it on the floor beside the bed while he ran his hand up her nightgown then wrapped his finger around the string of her panties and gently tugged downward.

"Well, it's about a pirate coming to the aid of a damsel in distress." She said as she lifted the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head.

"Why is she in distress?" he asked as he pulled his hands away from her now writhing body long enough to untangle from his shirt and drop it to the floor where the laptop lay.

"Because a Prince won't stop hitting on her." She said unbuttoning his jeans and pulling down the zipper.

"A Prince?" he asked as he kissed her neck and the exposed area of her chest.

"Yeah, she doesn't love him and he won't stop courting her." She said as she pushed his jeans and boxers down his hips.

"Well, what is the pirate doing?" He continued as he kicked off his boots, jeans and boxers.

"He's pretending to court the damsel to keep the prince away." She responded as she lifted herself up to pull her nightgown off over her head.

"How does a pirate wind up amongst women that a prince would want?" he questioned as he slid back up the bed kissing her foot, her ankle, her leg then sliding up further to her knee and the inside of her thigh.

"He's pretending to be a gentleman." She said as she ran her fingers through his hair brushing the wheat colored locks out of his face.

"Oh yeah? How did the damsel meet him?" he kept asking while he kissed up her stomach stopping at her belly button to swirl his tongue and then bite the slight pooch just below it.

"He robbed her passenger ship she was traveling on with her grandmother." She said as she tugged at his hair and spread her legs out to allow his hips to settle between them.

"What was his name?" he asked looking up at her with a mischievous sparkle to his eyes.

"Rex…I mean Jason" she responded with a wink.

"Oh, and I suppose the damsels name is Elizabeth." He said locking his elbows to lift up from her as he centered his hard cock just at her warm wet slit.

"Why I do believe her name is Elizabeth. How did you know?"

"Because I am Captain Morgan. Let me save you from the evil prince Lady Elizabeth." He finished as he thrust inside her.

"Oh, Captain Morgan. You seem to know just what it takes to save me. Thank you" she cooed wiggling her hips to let him know she was adjusted to his hard invasion.

"My pleasure Miss Webber, ma'am. The pleasure is ALL MINE." He whispered as he lowered himself down and kissed her gently at first slowly moving in and out of her.

"Captain Morgan?"

"Yes Lady Elizabeth."

"Fuck me hard."

"Such language for a woman of your prominence. You sound more like a brazen winch. Arrrgggg." He growled as he thrust harder into her, picking up the pace.

They moved quickly in time with each other. Elizabeth lifted her legs and wrapped them around his neck to give him fuller access. He thrust hard into her lifting hips moaning with pleasure as she took him deeper with each stroke. Needing the release they knew they could pull from one another they matched each others movement in a lustful dance. Jason came first but kept moving to take Elizabeth over the edge. She was three thrusts behind him and screamed his name as she fell over the edge. Jason buried his face in her neck, kissing the soft crook of her collar bone. She ran her fingers though his hair, twirling the mane in her fingers. They lay together, connected, until their breathing started to slow. Jason then pulled out of her to her soft whimpers of protest.

"Jason?"

"Yes baby.' He breathed. Chest still heaving.

"I like playing pirate." She cooed as she curled into his body.

"Me too baby. Captain Morgan at your service. Anytime."

"How about in five minutes?"

"Again? You want a pirate?" he asked as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

"No, this time you can be the vampire in another story I'm reading." She giggled and then she bit down onto his chest and started to suck.

"I need to check out this website you are reading. I suppose the vampire's name is not Count Dracula." He teased.

"Ummm, nope." She giggled.

Jason melted.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The weekend had been going well and Jason was getting more and more comfortable with Elizabeth's mother. Elizabeth was right; she was straight forward and spoke her mind but was a fair woman. Her husband was a retired military officer and told story after story of his days on the sea as the captain of a carrier ship. Jason and Elizabeth both laughed when she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Captain Morgan, I need you."

"What's so funny?" Penelope asked as she took a bite of her Cobb salad.

"Nothing mom." Elizabeth quickly responded as she leaned back over her bowl of soup and smiled as she noticed Jason sit up straight to her mother's question.

"Well, Elizabeth. I know you don't want to bring this up but, has Mark done anything to help you with this wedding of Chris'?"

"No mom, and I am not going to discuss it with you again."

"Honey, you have done so much for that man and his son. I just hate seeing you being taken advantage of like this."

"Chris and Amy are the ones getting married. Mark made his choice and that's why he and Chris are the way they are right now."

"If Mark loves you, he wouldn't let you do this alone." She reasoned.

"Excuse me, please." Jason said as he dropped his fork to his plate and stood pulling his napkin from his lap and dropping it over his plate of lasagna as a sign that he was done eating even though he had only eaten a quarter of it.

Watching Jason stalk off toward the door to the restaurant, Elizabeth lowered a cold stare at her mother. "See what you did! Why do you have to brig up Mark and ruin a nice lunch."

Standing and placing her own napkin down in her seat she felt her mother's hand grasp her wrist.

"Let me." She said and she pulled Elizabeth back down in her seat and walked off to follow Jason out the door.

"Your mother doesn't mean to upset the young man." Elizabeth's stepfather stated while twirling linguini onto his fork with his spoon.

"I know she doesn't mean to but Jason has a hard time dealing with Mark. He…he doesn't feel comfortable with the topic. Especially since he is trying to win mom's approval."

"He doesn't need your mother's approval. Only yours darling."

"I know that, Bob, but I have asked mom not to broach the subject of Mark."

"I don't think Mark was the topic. For the life of us, we cannot figure out why you are the responsible parent paying for this elaborate wedding of Amy and Chris'. Your mother has told me about it and it must be costing you a fortune. Amy's parents should be paying for it just like your mother, father and I paid for yours."

"Well, Amy's parents are a couple of alcoholic losers and we would end up eating fried chicken from a bucket and swilling draft Old Milwaukee from plastic cups in their front yard if they were the ones arranging the wedding."

Chuckling while taking another bite of his chicken alfredo, the older man reached across the table and patted his stepdaughter's hand. "You are a good girl Elizabeth. We know how you feel about Chris. Your mother just worries about you."

"I know but she needs to just leave this alone. Just the mention of Mark's name gets Jason upset. He doesn't…he just doesn't like it."

"Does he know about Ca…" he started only to be cut off.

"No and I DON'T want to talk about it." She said, steeling herself from the threatening tears.

"Okay. Sorry." The older man sighed and went back to eating.

Penelope returned and was followed by a red faced Jason.

"I'm sorry about that." Jason said lifting his napkin and motioning to the waitress.

"Yes, is something wrong with your lasagna?" the waitress asked while blatantly running her fingers across Jason's back.

"No, the lasagna is wonderful. I just…could you box this up and just bring me a dinner salad with ranch dressing. It turns out I am not very hungry."

"No, here. Take half of my Cobb salad. I'll never eat all of this." Elizabeth's mother waved off the waitress and pulled a bread plate and scooped salad onto the plate then handed over the larger plate of salad to Jason.

Looking up at her and seeing the pleasingly apologetic look in her eyes he quietly said, "Thank you. This looks delicious."

Elizabeth ate quietly while the three returned to small talk in topics that were safe for all. Bob told Jason that the best coffee from Jason's company that was in the variety pack his wife had ordered was the Kona blend and Jason replied that he would be glad to have some shipped to them Monday. He then informed the older man that he had brokered a contract with the navy to supply coffee to the entire east coast fleet. This brought about another earnest story of days on the sea. Finally calming, Jason settled a hand on Elizabeth's knee and gave it a light squeeze. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief that the tension was over and looked over at her mother and smiled.

"I love you, doodlebug." Her mother winked.

"Mom, I am thirty seven years old now, when are you going to stop calling me doodlebug?"

"When I stop breathing." She laughed and the group joined in.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The foursome returned to the house and Jason said he needed to run a quick errand before they could head down to the beach. Elizabeth questioned him because she knew he had not mentioned anything and his phone had not rung but he insisted he would not be long without answer to her question. The three sat playing with Aaron in the living room awaiting Jason's return.

Twenty five minutes later, a close shorn Jason walked into the condo.

"Jason, your hair! What happened?" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Umm, I got a hair cut." He said as he sheepishly eyed her mother.

"Good, that is much better." The older woman bellowed.

"Mom, I liked his hair longer. What did you do?"

"Your mother did nothing. I just needed a haircut and…well, I didn't like it long. It gets in my eyes and..."

"But Jason, I liked it. I told you that." She cut in.

"Hey, it's my hair." He reasoned and she couldn't argue. She knew her mother had something to do with it but Jason wasn't going to tell her now. What's done is done she figured and stood to run her fingers through the now half inch spikes.

Jason pulled her into his chest and placed a soft kiss to her forehead. "You guys ready to go? We'll need to take two cars. Is Amy or Chris going?"

"No they are going to stay here with Spin and Georgie. Spinelli is afraid of Mom so he doesn't want to go." She laughed.

"The boy is strange Elizabeth. I think he must be on drugs or something." Penelope announced.

"Mom, Spinelli talks differently and yes, he is a little different but he's a sweet kid and he doesn't do drugs."

"Well, he gives me a headache." She finished picking up Aaron off of the floor and giving him a kiss to his head.

"My partner too." Jason replied as he grabbed the stroller from the corner and handed off the leashes to Elizabeth.

"I'll take those." Elizabeth's stepfather said as he pulled the leashes from Elizabeth's hand. "The dogs and I are going to dig some holes today."

The men and dogs loaded into Jason's Escalade as Elizabeth, her mother and Aaron loaded into Penelope's rented Lebaron convertible.

Once down at the beach, Bob played with the dogs, tossing a tennis ball into the water while Aaron screamed from the stroller Penelope was pushing "Pop Pess GET!"

Jason and Elizabeth strolled behind slowly with a distance between them and her family, hand in hand. Jason had left his socks and boots in the truck and rolled up the bottoms of his jeans. Elizabeth walked carrying her shoes in her hand.

"Why did you cut your hair honey?"

"I told you, I was tired of it and wanted to cut it."

"That's not true. You knew I liked it. We even joked the other night about how you looked like a pirate with your longer hair." She said as she slipped her arm around his waist and pulled in close to him.

He draped his arm over her shoulder and reasoned, "Well, maybe I'll be a marine next time. Any stories about that?"

"Quit avoiding the question, Morgan. Why did you cut your hair? Better yet, what did my overbearing, over protective mother have to do with it."

"Umm, I don't know what you are talking about." He answered laughing as he watched Elizabeth's mother shooing the wet dogs away from her and Aaron.

"Yes you do. Now tell me." She said as she stopped and turned to wrap both arms around him and clasp her hands together behind his back. She looked directly in his eyes and caught and held his stare.

"Tell me Jason!" she prodded.

He leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "I love you."

"You're stalling"

"I want you." He kissed again harder.

"Quit stalling."

"Man I need Elizabeth."

"That's it. I'm going to go ask my mother." She stated exasperated at his uncooperativeness. She pulled from his grasp and started to turn.

"Wait, I'll tell you. I don't want you to talk to…well, I'll tell you what she said." He replied hesitantly pulling her back into his arms.

"Well?"

"She said…she…she…" he took a deep breath and his face flushed red "She said I looked like a porn star. After our first encounter when I met her, NAKED, I couldn't wrap my mind around her thinking of me as a porn star. I asked her what she was talking about and she pointed to my hair. She said, YOU HAVE PORN HAIR. Elizabeth, I can't stand to think of your mother looking at me like…like…and to think of her watching…I…I just had to cut my hair. I cannot have YOUR MOTHER look at me like that. I don't really care if you liked it long. I now have a standing appointment every three weeks at the barber shop up the street from the house."

He sunk his head into her shoulder hiding his face from the world and Elizabeth laughed.

"So Mom watches porn. Interesting."