"Jason?" She watched him carefully, trying to interpret his silence.
Jason snapped out of his trace at the sound of his voice. Finally smiling at her, he didn't say anything, only guiding her further along the beach, to a blanket Francis had laid out for them, along with a small fire to keep them warm.
Jason sat down first, pulling Liz down to sit in front of him. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her to him, kissing her shoulder, as his mind reeled.
She turned slightly, so she could see his face. "Jason, I didn't want to tell you until I was sure." She chuckled, "I don't even know why I told you. You don't feel the same way I do."
Before she could continue, he kissed her, slow and sweet, savoring the fullness of her lips, nibbling that spot on her lower lip where she always did. He smiled at her as he pulled away, "Don't I?"
"Jason," she whispered, but his mouth was on hers again. She giggled as she broke this kiss this time. "I guess you so." She rested her head against his bare chest. "Why didn't you say anything? I had no idea."
Jason cleared his throat, "Well, let's see. A - you had a boyfriend. B - I had no idea about you either." He smiled as she blushed. "Speaking of your boyfriend. Well, ex boyfriend, how did he take it?"
Elizabeth sighed. This was what she had been preparing for all day, but it suddenly seemed unnecessary. Still, she did owe it to Jason to explain, or at least try to. She settled back into his arms as she relived the memory. "Well, ever since he came back to Port Charles, things were different. And I don't just mean because he was telling me he didn't love me. But even after that, things just weren't the same anymore. We were clinging to the dreams we had before the fire, and unfortunately those dreams were destroyed by the fire and it's aftermath. I didn't want to admit it because I had fought so hard to get him back. But once I did, it was different. And I finally said enough is enough. I don't want to be 'the girl that loves Lucky' just to have something familiar. I want to be me again. And I realized the only way I could be me was to be without him. I just don't love him the way I used to. I never will."
Jason closed his eyes, resting his chin on Liz's shoulder as he took this all in. "I'll bet he thinks I have something to do with you're breaking up with him, doesn't he?" He turned to watch her.
Elizabeth nodded as she looked out onto the ocean. "But you don't. I did this for me. I didn't plan on falling in love with you."
He grinned as he kissed her shoulder, "Well, Liz, it's been my experience that no one doesn't chooses to fall in love. It just happens."
"I know," she whispered.
Jason pulled her closer as she shivered. She looked at him with amusement in her eyes, "So, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Well, I think I pretty much said it all with the kisses, don't you?" Before she could answer him, he kissed her again, slow and sweet, savoring the feel of her body against his.
When they parted, he noticed tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked with a frown on his face.
Liz sniffled as she stared at the fire, "I never thought it could be like this," she whispered. "I feel like I'm drowning, but I'm not scared." She looked at him, "Does that make sense?"
Jason nodded, "Elizabeth, I can think of a thousand reasons why I should put you on the next plane back to Port Charles and never look back, and only one reason for you to stay, but so help me, I want you to stay." He buried his face in the crook of her neck, filling his nose with the scent of her.
Elizabeth smiled as she leaned her head against his. "There's no place else I want to be."
They sat like this, together, until the sun came up. "The perfect ending to a perfect evening," she said as they stood up to leave.
"I couldn't agree more," he replied before pulling her into a wonderfully sensual kiss.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They spent the rest of the week just enjoying each other's company, learning things about each other, and doing the things that couples in love do. Returning to Port Charles was on the agenda, but neither of them seemed ready to face that fact. Unfortunately, Jason brought it up.
"You do know we have to go back?" he said quietly as they sat together watching the stars.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Nothing's going to change, you know. Nothing could change the way I feel."
Elizabeth sighed as she leaned against him and closed her eyes. "I know. I knew this wouldn't last forever, but it's been so wonderful."
Jason nibbled on her shoulder. "It's been better than wonderful." He shifted so he could reach into his pocket. "Elizabeth, there's something I want to give you." He pulled out a box.
Elizabeth took it, her hands slightly shaking. She gasped as she opened the box. Inside it was a gold chain. As she lifted the chain, the pendant came into view. She raised her hand to stop it from swinging in the breeze. Tears came to her eyes as she studied the heart shaped ruby, turning it this way and that, light reflecting off every angle.
"A heart, for the woman who stole mine." He kissed her gently, tasting the salt from the tears on her lips. He took the necklace from her, "Let me put it on." Liz pulled her hair up as he pulled the chain around her neck. His fingertips were electric as they glided over her skin. He kissed the nape of her neck before she let her hair fall. "Perfect."
She smiled, "Jason, I don't - wait, yes I do. Come on." She leapt from his lap, pulling him with her. Entering her art room, she quickly ran over to her easel checking the painting one last time. She smiled as she handed it to him..
"Elizabeth," was all he could say. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the canvas, for he was looking at himself, asleep. "Do I really look like this?" he asked her.
Elizabeth nodded, "I finished this the other day, when you wanted me to paint you, and you fell asleep."
They both looked down at the painting. Elizabeth managed to capture every nuance of Jason, every flaw, down to the last freckle. The blanket was slung carelessly over his legs, and his left arm extended out, as if he were unconsciously beckoning Liz into the bed with him. The expression on his face was pure contentment.
Elizabeth broke his trance, "You looked so enchanted, I couldn't help but wonder what you were dreaming about.
"You," he said without thinking. "You're all I dream about. All I want to dream of. Don't you know that by now?" He looked at her with a hunger in his eyes.
"Jason I-" her words lost as his mouth covered hers. Carefully placing the painting back on the easel, he took her into his arms, raining gentle kisses all over her face and neck. He carried her into his room and gently placed her on the bed. He pulled away for a moment, "Elizabeth, I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to, so if you want to stop-"
This time is was her mouth stopping his words. Liz pulled Jason down onto the bed with her, kissing him on his lips, his jaw line, down his neck. She rolled over so she could straddle him, chewing on her lower lip, and driving him crazy.
"You know, when you do that, it drives me insane." He ran his thumb over her lips and she nipped at it playfully.
"When I do what?"
"This." He pulled her down and nibbled her lips in the spot she always did.
She giggled as she pulled away from him, "Oh, that!" She did it again, just to tease him, and he groaned.
Jason placed his hands behind his head as he watched Elizabeth slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Smiling at the look on her face, and groaning when she leaned down to kiss his chest.
She teased him relentlessly, her tongue gliding over every plane and contour of his solid torso. Every so often, he felt her teeth graze his skin, and he chuckled at her determination to drive him wild. Ready to jump out of his skin, he pulled her to him and kissed her. As their tongues danced, he rolled them so he was on top, using his arms to keep the full weight of his body off of hers.
"My turn," he mumbled, tugging on her dress, bringing it up slowly, and helping Liz to get it over her head. He looked into her eyes, making sure she was ready. He teased her as she had teased him, not missing one inch of skin. He felt Liz tugging at his belt buckle, trying to undo it as he kissed her. He grinned at her tenacity, pushing her hand away so he could help.
Once his pants and boxers were off, he knelt over her as he slowly slid her panties down, tossing them across the room. She opened her legs to him, unconsciously offering herself to him.
As he entered her, he kissed her, and they both fell....